With the Grades season all but over the weekend saw most of the postponed games played with Cults setting a blistering end of season finish with a substantial total (332 for 7) led by centurion S. Rane (118) and new boy L. Kapil (98) which Kintore never looked to chase down as they were bowled out for 86 with notable bowling for Cults from N. Jadhav (3 for 14). This win has allowed Cults to frog jump Inverurie back into the runner-up slot and only a win by Inverurie against Bon Accord in their outstanding Grade fixture can now reverse this. At the bottom of the table, the two sides; Gordonians and St Ronald, promoted from Grade 2 last year are relegated. The Stonehaven and Mannofield Game was postponed once again and scheduled to be played next weekend.
In Grade 2 the Caledonian total (199) proved too much for the struggling 2nd Kintore side as they were skittled out for 71 led by the batting for Caledonian from C. Hall (61). Down at Balmoral Castle the home side; Crathie were restricted to a total of 95 led by the bowling from G. Miller (4 for 23) and G. Stewart (2 for 20) which the AGSFP visitor’s cruised past spearheaded by the batting from G. Morrison (47) who narrowly missed out on his half century. Over at Burnett Park, 2nd Banchory continued with their winning streak as they passed the Artisans total (74). On Sunday 2nd Banchory entertained Queens Cross who had to settle for a draw as the 2nd Banchory team clung on to their last wicket (104 for 9) struggling to chase down the Queens Cross total (209 for 8). 2nd Cults scratched their match against Fraserburgh. This now leaves AGSFP as Grade 2 champions with Queens Cross as runner-up and at the bottom of the table Artisans and 2nd Kintore relegated to Grade 3.
In Grade 3 up North at the Haughs, the hosts Turriff were unable to chase down the Crescent total (178 for 5) as they were bowled out for 96, with notable half centuries for Crescent from M. Potts (57) and R. Swabey (52 and 3 for 23). Over at Bogbeth Park, Kemnay restricted the Grade 3 leaders; Anchorians total (157) led by the bowling from R. West (4 for 24) and J. Thom (3 for 40), but were unable to capitalise as they were bowled out for 80 with C. Ravi (4 for 15) and S. Battula (3 for 10) doing most of the damage. Meanwhile at Cowdry Estate the visitors, 2nd Stonehaven restricted the rejuvenated Dunecht side to 96 runs spearheaded by the bowling from C. Findlay (3 for 23) and youngster D. Long Jnr (3 for 23), but the bulk of the Dunecht runs contributed by J. Donald (49) who narrowly missed out on his half century proved too much for the 2nd Stonehaven side as they were skittled out for just 30 runs led by the bowling for Dunecht from D. Peerless (3 for 7) and S. Roberts (3 for 14). With all Grade 3 games now completed Anchorians are the Champions with 2nd Gordonians taking the runner-up slot and both Turriff and Kemnay relegated to Grade 4.
In Grade 4 all outstanding games were completed last week seeing 2nd St Ronald just pip 2nd Queens Cross to be crowned the Grade 4 Champions leaving the 2nd Queens Cross side with the runner-up promotion slot.
In the Turriff Cup the semi-final between Cults and Ellon saw Ellon dismissed for a low total (67) which the Alan Park side comfortably cruised past with 9 wickets in hand, putting them into the final against Bon Accord, who in their semi-final against St Ronald setup a substantial total (204 for 2) seeing the first wicket fall at 159 that the St Ronald side never looked to trouble as they were all dismissed for 76, with notable batting for Bon Accord from N. Mirza (91) and F. Awan (76 not out). The Final saw Cults setup a low total (82) which the Bon Accord side must have thought was easily gettable, but with some sharp fielding and tight bowling from Cults saw the game go down to just 4 runs required for a Bon Accord victory with the last Bon Accord wicket and 3 balls of the final over remaining, but the Cults bowler held his nerve to take the final Bon Accord wicket sealing victory and the Turriff Cup Championship for the Alan Park side. The Man-of-the-match was awarded to R. Dhiman of Bon Accord CC. Next week sees the two sides meet again, this time for the Aberdeenshire Cup final to be held at the Aberdeenshire CC home Ground at Mannofield.
wytbu8 Aug 31 2009 - 7:31pm
