Stonehaven Thistle vs Methlick 2nds 08_06_2024
Methlick 2nds were at Mineralwell Park, Stonehaven, on Saturday to take on the home team in a Grade 3 game. Deni Sarafimoski was skipper for the day and opted to bat 1st with a weakened team for the day.
Dave Chalmers and Bryan Carr opened and faced a strong opening attack and looked to set a solid platform. Dave was content to watch as 4 wides were conceded in the 1st over off the youngster Hussein, Bryan started strongly with a 4 in his first over faced. Snelling was troubling both batsmen and got Dave to nick off to 1st slip for only 1 run. Shahid Choudry replaced him and continued his form from the previous week, striking regular boundaries all around the ground. Bryan was clean bowled for 11 by the 1st replacement bowler Ramasamy. Deni joined Shahid and the pair made 31 in the best partnership of the day for Methlick. Beverage had replaced Snelling and trapped Deni, just as the Methlick man was in his stride, clean bowling him as he looked to pull a full length ball over square leg.
Methlick were now at 57 for 3 off 24.2 overs, a decent position if someone could provide Shahid with support. Dod Duncan had another short innings, leaving a leg-side ball to hit his pads, the ball then rolling onto his stumps, only just breaking the bails. Brian Anderson joined Shahid and the pair looked positive against the 2 string bowlers until Shahid pulled Beverage aerially to mid-on where Sanderson took a straightforward catch. Shahid had made 32. Mike Bremaneson joined Brian and the pair added 17 before Brian was clean bowled by Beverage for 13. Youngster Alfie Sanderson was on at the river end and tempted David Low into a flash at a wide ball where he toe-ended the ball to Bonds behind the stumps. Loanee Ormond Fyfe was bowled by the same bowler as was Nick Hyde who was making his first appearance for 2 years, both for ducks. Sanderson ended with figures of 3 for 0 off 1.2 overs. Methlick had made a decent fist of the innings, ending on exactly 100 all out.
David Low opened the bowling, looking to repeat his heroics of the previous weekend. He started well, only conceding a single from the 1st over. Shahid was supporting him and took a key wicket with his 1st ball of the innings. Macauley-Dick looked to tuck the ball round the corner, but the ball having pitched on middle stump swung away to clip the top of off stump, a great delivery to completely baffle Stonehaven’s main man. David continued to bowl well from the opposite end, but Stonehaven dug in to try and see the openers off. Shahid was perhaps a bit fortunate to gain an LBW decision to dismiss Ramasamy, height was a consideration but the umpire found in favour of Methlick.
That was the end of the wicket-taking for Methlick as Gale and Gouws saw the home side reach the target comfortably, scoring 30 and 48 respectively in only 19 overs. Deni had introduced Mike, Byan and himself to try and force a breakthrough, to no avail.
Methlick had been pretty competitive as a batting unit, but Stonehaven were too strong against the 10 man side. It was great seeing Nick on the cricket field again and his teammates fully appreciated his efforts. They face Ellon at Lairds next weekend and are looking for a strong side to take on local rivals.
By David Chalmers