Thundery showers to the north and west of Aberdeen arrived too late to help Gordonians, all three of whose Grade sides all went down to defeat, the Grade 2 and 3 sides failing to compile 100 runs between them; as in Grade 1 Cults continued their move up the table, Javaid Masud ripping the heart out of the FPs’ batting while bottom-placed Kintore clung on to gain a draw against leaders Bon Accord despite the visitors’ 42-over declaration.

Elsewhere in Grade 1 Ellon continued their sound start to the season, as Mannofield slipped back further following defeat at the Links; while a half-century and four wicket haul from skipper Sajid Hasan steered Banchory to a morale-boosting win over Stonehaven at Mineralwell Park.

At the Duthie Park it was a day for quick finishes, 2nd Gordonians’ defeat by Academy in Grade 3 being followed within the hour by Grade 2 leaders Cults-Artisans going down to a surprisingly comfortable defeat by home side Caledonian for whom H Saraswat was once again in good all-round form.  With Methlick’s game one of those voided by the rain, St Ronald were able to move up the table following their victory over Arrowdawn Gordonians at King’s College; while in the day’s only other result Fraserburgh secured a walkover against Crescent.

At the top of Grade 3,  2nd St Ronald continued their winning form away to their rivals of last season 2nd Queens Cross at Harlaw; while in Grade 4 an undefeated half-century and three wickets from 14-year old Rahul Chandu saw Kemnay to victory over the youngsters of Huntly Highlanders; and another solid all-round performance from Portcullis skipper K. Nair saw the town side to an eight-wicket win over 2nd Mannofield; while P. Bijl took eight for 14 as Turriff crushed 2nd Dunecht at the Haughs, N. Smith and A. Mirashi each recording half-centuries for the home side in their total of 238 for six.