Clubs involved in the Thistle Sports 7's are advised that the Standard ball as advised in Rule 25 (page 21 in the Grades Handbook) in the Grade 2, 3 and 4 matches is to be used and NOT the one used for Grade 1 matches or any other make of ball. Thanks

On a damp North East weekend, in the Grade 1 fixture, the pole position holders Bon Accord took on Mannofield at the Links with Mannofield setting a total (182-8 off 44 overs) helped by the batting from D. Lawson (43) which the Bon Accord side comfortably passed (185-3 off 33 overs) led by the batting from N. Mirza (64) and A. Win (57 not out), with most of the bowling damage done for the Bon Accord side from T. Malik (4-38) and F. Awan (3-52). Over at Rubislaw AGSFP’s slumped to a low total (85 off 30 overs) which the Banchory visitors didn’t take too long to pass (87-3 off 27 overs). Next door at Harlaw, the Ellon visitors total (153-8 off 42 overs) was far too much for the Queens Cross side, who are still struggling to find a win, to chase as they collapsed to a lowly total (30 off 21 overs) with much of the bowling damage for Ellon from R. Wade (5-3). Out at Castle Road the Inverurie visitors total (177-5 off 46 overs) led by the batting from M. Strachan (67) proved not enough as the Kintore home team chased down their total with notable batting from A. Nalam (64 not out) and G. Prosser (63). Across at Alan Park the Cults total (235-5 off 42 overs) led by the batting from K. Laghate (77) and A. Induchudan (72 not out) was too much to chase down for the Stonehaven visitors, restricted by the bowling from M. Javaid (6-22 including a hat-trick), as they were bowled out (160 off 37 overs). These results now leave Bon Accord out in pole position with a 6 percent lead and the chasing pack Ellon and Cults separated by only 0.1 percent, although 14 percent behind are occupied by Stonehaven and Banchory who are separated only by a 0.4 percent margin. 

Do you want more information on setting up a Junior section for your cricket club? Or do you already have a Junior section and want to move forward with your existing setup? If so, please contact Tariq on 07946 828376 or email on buttclan@hotmail.com.

At a meeting of the Management Committee held on 7th June 2010 the following decisions were taken.

2nd Dunecht v Kemnay 1 May 2010
The Committee noted that this match had been cancelled without apparent clear agreement of the opposition outside the provisions of Clause 3(i) of the Wet Weather Rules, stating that no match should be postponed before the morning of the match.  The Committee determined that accordingly the match must be awarded to Kemnay as a walkover.  The Committee reminds all clubs of the need to ensure that they are aware of and follow this and other provisions of the Wet Weather Rules: failure to do so will be regarded as failing to fulfil or play out a fixture under Note 5 to Association Rule16 on p.13 of the 2010 Handbook.

Anchorians v Cults-Artisans 22 May 2010.
It was note that Anchorians admitted to having fielded a player in the above game who, although he had not previously appeared in the Grades this season, was not registered prior to him taking an active part in the game.

Below are the fixtures for the next three weeks of the schedule for Under-13 cricket games. They are based on results fed back for the first seven weeks so there’s no mystery to how they came about. If there are any ground availability issues then if you want to reverse the venue then go for it

Date Home -v- Away
Mon 14/6 Aberdeenshire -v- Banchory
Mon 14/6 Huntly A -v- Stoneywood-Dyce
Mon 14/6 Stonehaven or free -v-Huntly B
Mon 14/6 Cults -v- Ellon/Fraserburgh

Mon 21/6 Stoneywood-Dyce -v- Aberdeenshire
Mon 21/6 Banchory -v- Huntly A
Mon 21/6 Huntly B -v- Cults
Mon 21/6 Stonehaven or free -v- Ellon/Fraserburgh

Mon 28/6 Aberdeenshire -v- Huntly A
Mon 28/6 Stoneywood-Dyce -v- Banchory
Mon 28/6 Ellon/Fraserburgh -v- Huntly B
Mon 28/6 Stonehaven or free -v- Cults

Hopefully we can continue beyond these dates and also play catch up on some of the unplayed fixtures but previous experience has been that school holidays have historically impacted age-group cricket substantially.

Let’s hope the sun shines on you all...

A G BARRON

Grades Select 170-6 (F Awan 73, S White 34; D Rosie 2-49) beat Stoneywood-Dyce 102-8 (H Ahmed 23, J Walters 20; G Narasimman 4-12, C Forbes 2-20).

Firstly, Many thanks to those of you that have submitted your application. With the Festival only 5 weeks away we now require volunteers to Umpire or Score at the proposed matches. The only qualification required to undertake this task is experience at any level of competitive cricket, if you would like further details please do not hesitate to contact Ean Mackie on 01224 633706 or write to Ean at 50 Bonnymuir Place, Aberdeen, AB15 5NP. Thanks again for your continuous support.

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.

Ticket offer for your junior members. With the game only two and a half weeks away, we are keen to firm up numbers for the junior area. I would be grateful if you could please let us know if your club wishes to take up this offer. Cricket Scotland would prefer if an adult was accompanying your junior members although we would understand if this is problematic if you require any more information please contact me on benfox@cricketscotland.com

The highlight of the 2010 calendar will be the Scotland v England One Day International on Saturday June 19 at the Citylets Grange.

In Grade 1 down at the beach the AGSFP’s side total (161-7) helped by a super undefeated innings by J. Moir (86 not out including 10 sixes) supported by youngster James Lord (13 not out) but restricted by the bowling from M. Byrne (4-37) seemed a relative easy target as the Mannofield side cruised to 101-3, until some inspired bowling from J. Eagles (4-20) including the run-out wicket of C. Burnett (51) led to the dramatic Mannofield collapse of 114 all out. Out at Kellands Park the Inverurie side total (130) restricted by the bowling for Bon Accord from N. Mirza (4-20) and despite a valiant batting effort from M. Strachan (74) was not enough as the Bon Accord side comfortably reached their target helped by the  batting from F. Awan (54 not out). At Banchory the Queens Cross visitors, still looking for their first win of the season, set a total (204 of 38 overs) helped by the batting from A. Russell (68) was enough, but were unable to take the last Banchory Wicket, helped by a good all round performance from W. Ali (42 and 3-55) and had to settle for a draw. Out at Mineralwell Park the Stonehaven total (183-6 off 46 overs) helped by Skipper A. Milroy (86) but restricted by the bowling of R. Greenfield (5-32) could not be chased down by the Ellon visitors but hung onto their last wicket and had to settle for a draw (149-9) leaving both teams on equal percentage with the Stonehaven side just piping the Ellon side into second position with a superior run rate, wickets taken and runs against. The Cults v Kintore encounter failed to materialise as the Alan Park pitch was waterlogged. These results leave the chasing pack second, third and fourth clubs; Stonehaven, Ellon and Cults, with only one percent difference.