Despite the persistent drizzly rain over the North East a number of fixtures were completed. In Grade 1 out at Gordon Park the Cults side visitors took no chances as they racked up a 282 for 5 total off 46 overs led by the batting of K. Laghate 85 and A. Ajazi 73 not out, in reply, the Ellon home side never really got going, as they were bowled out for 123, despite the batting effort from C. Wolrige-Gordon (40) with much of the bowling damage caused for the visitors by R. Meghani (5-24). In the City the Queens Cross side must have thought finally, they had a good chance of a win as they set a target of 181 for 8 declaring at 40 overs, led by the batting from skipper J. Garner (54) and A. Russell (46), but the in-form Kintore side visitors reached the target (185-6) comfortably within 43 overs led by the batting from C. Laird (55) and A. Stalker (47), with notable bowling for Kintore from R. Walker (4-34). Back out of town at Burnett Park the Banchory home side total (180-6) led by the batting from C. Mason (48 not out) and C. James (47) proved too much for the Inverurie side to chase down as they fizzled out at 90 off 36 overs with much of the bowling damage from skipper S. Hasan (4-15) ably supported by J. Miller (3-10). The AGSFP’s v Bon Accord encounter was called off before starting the match, with the Mannofield v Stonehaven encounter eventually being abandoned.

In Grade 2, the top of the table side St. Ronald blasted a total (245 for 1 off 26 overs) led by an undefeated century from S. Haider (131 not out) and good all-round performance from E. Theron (70 not out and 3-12), that proved too much for the bottom of the table Crescent side to defend, despite the batting effort from A. Pewekar (62) and were eventually bowled out for 117 off 57 overs. Cults-Artisans v Methlick; Arrowdawn Gordonians v 2^nd Banchory and Crathie v Anchorians matches were called off early in the day with Caledonian v Fraserburgh match being eventually abandoned.

FRIDAY 9^th JULY 2010

Friday marked the third of the ACA 125 year Festival matches with Scotland XI v Rest of the World XI contest out at a very cloudy with bursts of rain Inverurie. The ACA Scotland XI side batted first with wickets falling at regular intervals and were bowled out for 118 with only G. Johnston (42) offering any real resistance, with much of the key bowling damage caused by V. Krishnamoorthy (3-26) and G. Narasimman (2-24) with the Rest of the World Skipper, S. Hasan (3-12) mopping up the Scotland XI tail. In reply, led by an undefeated inning from A. Induchudan (39 not out) secured a comfortable win for the Rest of the World XI side as they reached their target with 5 wickets in hand.

THURSDAY 8^th JULY 2010

The second fixture in the Aberdeenshire Cricket Association Grades week of Festival games was played at Mannofield in glorious sunshine. Aberdeenshire with a match winning partnership of 136 for the 3rd wicket between skipper N. MacRae and G. Tomlinson set the Grades Select side a target of 229 to win off their 40 overs. Unfortunately the chase was never really on after the Grades Select side lost 3 early wickets finally losing by 54 runs and that was despite a half century from R. Dhiman for the Grades Select side.

WEDNESDAY 7^th JULY 2010

The Aberdeenshire Cricket Associations week of Festival Games got underway at Banchory where a City U-17's XI Select played a County U-17's XI Select in a 40 over a side match. The match played in beautiful surroundings on a windy but pleasant afternoon turned out to be a closer encounter than the score may suggest with the City side running out victorious by 3 wickets with 7 overs to spare. Top batsman of the day was David Kidd of Stoneywood-Dyce, who retired with an undefeated 51, while the top bowler of the day was Saif Ahmed also of Stoneywood-Dyce with 2 for 2. The result might have been even closer if the chances offered during the Kidd/Ahmed match winning partnership of 62 had been held.

David Kidd was named as the City player of the match and Ryan Duthie the County player of the match.

County U-17's XI 123 ( T Proctor (Ellon) 30, L Ferguson (Huntly) 22, R Chandu (Kemnay) 22no, Z Crawley (Banchory) 15, J Higgins (Huntly) 12; S Ahmed (Stoneywood-Dyce) 2-2, S al Mamun (Stonneywood-Dyce) 2-15).

City U-17's XI 124-7 (D Kidd (Stoneywood-Dyce) 51 retired, S Ahmed (Stoneywood-Dyce) 17, H Niven (Mannofield) 12, F Proud (Mannofield) 11; R Duthie (Fraserburgh) 2-9, S Williams (Methlick) 2-18).

Club Secretaries are reminded that all outstanding ACA fee's should have been submitted by now. Please make all cheques payable to "Aberdeenshire Cricket Association" sending to 18 Beechill Gardens, Aberdeen, AB15 7QH. Many Thanks.

There were few major surprises in the latest round of matches in Grade 1 as Cults comfortably beat Banchory at the Allan Park, with a half-century from Ed Spearman; while Queens Cross’s season of woe reached its nadir as they were shot out for just 14 by league leaders Bon Accord at Harlaw.  Kintore gained a morale-boosting win ahead of their Village Cup game in South Yorkshire with a six wicket win over Ellon, which hoisted them closer to mid-table safety, while Mannofield’s recent slump in form was reversed with a win over Inverurie at the Links, and Stonehaven edged out Grammar FPs.

In Grade 2 St Ronald, despite home advantage, lost to Caledonian with Jacques van Oorschot recording an undefeated half-century, and with Gordonians also losing to Anchorians, Methlick and Cult-Artisans strengthened their respective challenges for promotion with comfortable wins over Crescent and 2^nd Banchory.  Crathie clung on for a draw in their home encounter with Fraserbugh.

Ian Stephen is liaising with George Burnett of Thistle Sports to ensure there is not a large stock of balls left at the end of the season. At present Ian would be interested in buying back balls from grade 2/3/4 in case some clubs run short.

As the sun finally appeared to greet the arrival of the second half of the season, St Ronald kept alive their hopes of taking both Grade 2 and Grade 3 titles with comfortable wins over a below-strength Cults-Artisans side in Grade 2,  and K Imran taking a century off 2^nd Ellon in Grade 3.  With Arrowdawn Gordonians also going down to a nine-wicket defeat at Methlick, the King’s College-based team now have pole position in both leagues.

Elsewhere in Grade 2, Mark Oldham was another centurion but in a losing cause as Anchorians won a high-scoring game against Fraserburgh at the Duthie Park; while Crathie and 2^nd Banchory played out the season’s first tied game at Balmoral.

Down at Forfar, in the Semi-final of the mPOWER Cup, sponsored by MONITOR MCS, the Grades Select took on Dundee HSFP's, the visitors set a target of 203-2 led by the batting from K. Laghate (82) and F. Awan (63) ably assisted by the ever explosive batting from N. Mirza (40). In reply the Dundee HSPF's side fell short of their target by 45 runs, despite the batting performance from R. Rennie (45) with much of the bowling damage led by J. Barrett 3-21 and F. Awan 2-18. This result now leads the Grades Select side into the final (venue & opposition tba).

With a blistering cold northerly wind blowing, in Grade 1 at Alan Park, the Ellon visitors total (192-10 off 43.4 overs) restricted by some tight  bowling for Cults from K. Laghate (4-18) but helped by a half century from J. Barrett (52) and supported by S. Davies (44) must have seemed very gettable for the home side, but despite a half century for Cults from M. Javaid (51) was not enough as the Cults side were dismissed for 148 off 40.2 overs. Out at Castle Road, the Queens Cross total (131) was comfortably overhauled by the Kintore side, with pick of the batting for Kintore from D. Grayson (41). At Kellands Park, the Inverurie total (174-9 off 46 overs) aided by a fine batting performance from R. Lamb (90) was comfortably reached by the Banchory side visitors, helped by a good all-round performance from skipper S. Hasan (27 and 5-51). Down at the beach, pole position holders Bon Accord set a total (237-5 off 40 overs) assisted by an excellent all-round performance from F. Awan (108 and 3-27), which the AGSFP’s visitors never looked to chase down, but were able to hang onto their last wicket forcing a draw (149-9 off 50 overs). Out at Mineralwell Park the Stonehaven total (80 off 34 overs), with much of the bowling damage inflicted for the Mannofield side from S. Rane (5-12) was easily chased down (81-0) with notable batting for the Mannofield side from C. Martin (46 not out). These results at the half way mark of the season, leave Bon Accord out on top with 92.2 percent with Ellon showing signs of giving the leaders a run for their money as they close the gap with 87.7 percent and Cults loosing ground with their defeat dropping to 82.9 percent, whilst at the bottom it looks like a drop back to Grade 2 for last years promoted sides, AGSFP’s and Queens Cross, with perhaps AGSFP’s looking the stronger candidates for staying up if they continue to keep in touch with the bottom half of the table.

In Grade 2 the Methlick total (132 off 40 overs) was easily chased down by the Cults-Artisans side (138-3 off 43 overs) aided by an unbeaten batting half century from S. Dickie (56 not out) and S. Sawant who narrowly missed out on his half century (49). Over at Burnett Park, the 2^nd Banchory side total (117 off 43 overs) restricted by some fine bowling from veteran C. Pettitt (5-17) was easily overhauled by the Gordonians side visitors, led by an unbeaten half century from C. Mouli (64 not out). At Duthie Park, the 9 man Crescent side respectable total (146 off 45) assisted by a half century from A. Pewekar (66) and J Skedge (43) was not enough as the pole position leaders, St. Ronald romped home (150-2 off 35 overs) with E. Theron left stranded (49 not out). Next door, the Balmoral side visitors total (103 off 26 overs) restricted by the bowling for Anchorians from skipper C. Forbes (6-20), was reached (104-7 off 28 overs) by the Anchorians side, despite the bowling effort for the Crathie side from R. McAra (4-17). Out at the Broch the Caledonian side visitors total (160 off 31.4 overs) aided by the batting from A. Senthil (81) proved not to be enough as the Fraserburgh side, with notable batting from C. Bowie (45), comfortably reached their target (162-2 off 31.3 overs). These results show St. Ronald out at the top with 94.1 percent and with the 2 chasing sides Cults-Artisans and Gordonians in close contention with 86.3 and 80.4 percent respectively. Whilst at the foot of the table Crescent and 2^nd Banchory look ready for an early bath down to Grade 3 with 25.2 and 39 percent respectively.