Week 5 of the Grades Cricket saw all fixtures completed and the player transfer window for the remainder of the season only a week away from closing.

In Grade 1 at Castle road the Kintore total (77) was not enough as the Banchory visitors easily reached the target with most of the damage done by the bowling from skipper S. Hasan (6-10). Down at the beach the Ellon visitors total (120) helped by the batting from H. W. Gordon (47) looked very gettable by the Bon Accord home side, but tight bowling for the visitors from S. White (4-44) and R. Greenfield (3-43) saw the home team scramble over the line with their last wicket, catapulting them into pole position. Over at Alan Park the Cults team recovered from their defeat last week by setting a total (250-5 off 43 overs) led by a century from K. Laghate (130) and A. Induchudan (62) that the Mannofield side, who have been setting the pace in pole position, struggled  to reach as they were bowled out for 110, most of the damage done by M. Javaid (6-19). In town at Rubislaw AGSFP’s got the better of their Harlaw neighbours helped by a half century from J. Moir (57) and excellent bowling spells from J. Eagles (4-6) and G. Stewart (3-18). At Kellands Park the Stonehaven visitors total (176-6 off 45 overs) helped by the batting from last weeks centurion J van der Ruit (60) and A. Kemp who fell just short of this half century (46) proved too much to chase down as they battened down the hatches and held out for a draw (93-6).

In Grade 2 the 2^nd Banchory home side recorded their first win of the season assisted by the batting of T. Wilkinson (54) at the expense of Crescent who must have thought that their total (221) helped with the batting of M. Potts who fell just 1 run short of his century would have been enough, left the promoted side still looking for their first win. Back in town at Duthie park 1 saw the Anchorians home team led by the batting from A. Natarajan (64 not out) and S. Kumar (41) fall just 13 runs short of a win, with their last wicket, as the Cults-Artisans side held them to a draw. Meanwhile Caledonian took a trip up to the Lairds ground where they set a total (213-9 off 46 overs) led by the batting of J. van Oorschot (84) which saw the Methlick home side, despite the batting from S. Murphy (64 not out),  just miss out of a win as they ran out of overs and fell just 10 short. Gordonians winning streak and pole position came to an end, despite the batting of S. Menon (46 not out) as the Crathie home side comfortably reached their target led by the batting from A. Shore (64 not out) and R. McEwan (59). Across the other end of the North East the Fraserburgh total (183-9 off 46 overs) was not enough as the St. Ronald side, helped by the batting from A. Mudie (78 not out) and bowling from E. Theron (4-29), reached the target in 40.2 overs.

In Grade 3 Academy continued their winning run as they set a total (240-5 off 39 overs), led by the batting from T. Mateed (63) and S. Bedi who fell just 2 runs short of his half century, which the  2^nd Kintore side never looked to trouble, despite the batting and bowling effort from K. Samy (58 and 2-65) as the were bowled out for 139. Across town at Countesswells, the 2^nd Gordonians total (74) was easily overhauled by the 2^nd Methlick visitors with notable batting performance from skipper S. Kennedy (52 not out) and bowling from J. Buchan (4-16). At Gordon Park the 2^nd Ellon side total (192-7) helped by the batting from T. Proctor (46) and K. Montgomery (40 not out) was too much for the Dunecht visitors as they settled for a draw with notable batting for Dunecht from M. Witz (87 not out). Out at Mineralwell Park, one of the most exciting games of the day,  the 2^nd Stonehaven total (162-9 off 46 overs) was chased down by the 2^nd St. Ronald side with just one wicket in hand, despite the batting from C. Findlay (40 not out) and bowling from N. King (5-44). At Harlaw the 2^nd Queens Cross side continued to look for their first win as they were bowled out by their neighbours 2^nd AGSFP’s with much of the damage inflicted by K. Mohanan (5-31).

In Grade 4 Portcullis destroyed the 3^rd Gordonians side as they were skittled out for 15 runs with most of the damage inflicted by K. Nair (5-4) supported by A. Maidmant (3-8). Over at a warm Sheddocksley the 2^nd Mannofield total (37) was easily passed by the Kemnay side with R. Chandu (4-8) and R. West (3-23) inflecting most of the damage. Out at the Gordon School Ground the Huntly Highlanders side total (69), despite the batting effort from M. Heyman who fell just 1 run short of his half century, was easily passed by the Knightriders side visitors helped by the bowling from P. Palaniyandi (4-7) and S. Bharali (3-17). 2^nd Dunecht scratched awarding full points to Stoneywood-Dyce.

On Sunday, the Turriff and Knightriders rearranged fixture saw the Knightriders continue with their winning ways as they comfortably reached the required runs, with a half century from M. Vallatharasu and bowling from S. Bharali (4-16), despite a half century from S. Malleshappa (52) and bowling from A. Mirashai (4-28) for the home side.

In the MPOWER village cup the Ross County side set a total (180-7 off their allocated 40 overs), which the Kintore side comfortably passed with G. Prosser narrowly missing out on his half century (48 not out). Kintore will now go through to the next round where they will meet Methlick.

In the Aberdeenshire Cup preliminary round the Inverurie side total (180-5) with batting from R. Lamb (81) was too much for the AGSFP’s side to reach as they were restricted by the excellent spell of bowling from skipper G. Hadden (7-23).