Methlick 1st X1 vs Huntly 31.08.2024
With Methlick already condemned to relegation the closing league game of 2024 provided an opportunity to finish off the season with a win and vengeance against a Huntly side who narrowly won the corresponding fixture earlier in the season.
Not having the strongest team on paper has not always held back the MCC and once again this proved to be the case particularly when it came to Saturday’s work in the field where the home side excelled. The toss was difficult to call and Methlick were put into bat by the Huntly captain.
Woodhouse and Smith kept the openers at bay for 9 overs when the former, already playing aggressively, toe-ended an on-drive off Henderson to be caught on 17. Smith achieved exactly the same score albeit with more circumspection, but it was Aussie, Adam Veersema, that finally found form with the bat and ruthlessly punished to Huntly bowling whilst the other batters played around him.
Bryan Carr and Grant Cordiner played a supporting role as Veersema reached his half century and the score was taken on to 127 when the Aussie finally played a loose shot and was bowled for 59. A longer tail than usual meant that Methlick were always going to struggle to extend the score very far. Cordiner made 11 and Carr 8 with Sarafimoski caught for 2. Jay Allan and David Low were undefeated as the score was taken up to 139 after 40 overs. It felt under par but a lot depended on Huntly’s own batting.
In the previous game Huntly’s victory came about single-handedly from a 53 from youngster Charlie Kennedy whilst his fellow batsmen fell by the wayside. Once again his talents were called upon early as the Methlick opening bowling pair of Veersema and John Moore tore through the Huntly batsmen. Veersema bowled Dawar in his first over and Moore had Ian Kennedy for a duck in his first. Combined with a run-out from Bryan Carr the visitors were disastrously 4 down for 12 runs as Veersema also had Macintosh edging to Woodhouse for 2.
Charlie Kennedy once again looked sound as he opened his account with a boundary and then a six from Cordiner but a splendid, running catch on the boundary by Scott Gordon from the bowling of Carr brought an end to his innings.
Reid put up a fight but was bowled by Cordiner for 16 and then the Methlick bowlers scythed through the batting. Cordiner and Carr both took 3 wickets apiece as Huntly meekly succumbed to 54 all out to end the season for Methlick on a positive note.
Next Saturday sees the final game for the second team and the following week has the Methlick Gala Day at Lairds featuring a 7-a-side tournament including teams from Ellon, Fraserburgh, Inverurie and Portcullis. There will also be 2 Junior Games showcased, beer tent, hog roast and many other stalls.
Our thanks go to Alan Hill as match ball sponsor for the day.
By Mark Woodhouse