Scorecard

Forfarshire Cricket Club 1st XI v Aberdeenshire on Sat 21 Jun 2008 at 1pm
Forfarshire Cricket Club Lost 1 run

Match report The biggest test of Forfarshire’s unbeaten home record came on Saturday with the visit of Aberdeenshire to Forthill. Only 2 points separated the top three in the league as we played the last game of the first half of the season ensuring that this would be a tense affair with the winners being in at least the promotion play-off slot going into the second half of the season.

Our usual warm up of a lazy stretch followed by a game of 5 a side Frugball was ruined by Beast who insisted on sprinting back and forward for 5 minutes leaving half the team puffing and blowing. Further confusion arose when there were 11 players present for the 5 a side. Isabella had had a good night’s sleep and Lisa had gone to town, meaning that Ryan had to come early. Six old boys against five young lads still wasn’t enough as the effect of the earlier sprinting allowed the sprogs to post another Frugball victory.

Drummy went to shake hands with the visiting skipper as we resigned ourselves to being asked to field first again. The Dons came out firing as usual and their Kiwi pro Astle looked in great nick, hitting a number of early boundaries. Richie produced a belter of a delivery to find the edge of the other opener’s bat and Drummy took a tremendous diving catch to get us off the mark. This brought the experienced MacRae to the crease and along with Astle they continued to race along at 5 an over. We were struggling to contain them when MacRae set off on a suicidal single. Bobby swooped from point and threw down the stumps at the bowlers end. MacRae was at least 5 yards short of his ground and turned round to trudge off. Unfortunately he then realised that Bobby had been so quick that the umpire had his back turned when the stumps were broken and was giving him not out. MacRae was given an opportunity to do the sporting thing but chose to stay in. It is fair to say he was given a few choice words for this decision and this injustice seemed to have the effect of firing up the Forfs, as from that point on we were on top for the first time.

The previously unflustered Astle started to struggle and when Umi bowled him a juicy full toss he mistimed it straight to mid off. The Forfs’ hearts were in mouths as they realised that it was Chic fielding there who hadn’t caught a pro since 1987. Amazingly the catch was pouched without the merest juggle. In the next over, MacRae did the honourable thing setting off on another suicidal single. This time he was sent back by his partner by which time Tom had whipped the ball in to Drummy and he was given a rousing send off.

This brought in the dangerous South African McGilliwie, but before he could get into his stride Ryan deceived him with flight and he was lbw to leave the Dons struggling at 107 for 5 and the Forfs well on top. Scotland keeper Smith then batted patiently to try to rebuild the innings and our bowling and fielding was excellent. Ryan produced a direct hit for another run out and then Aman bowled Thomson first ball, to leave Smith nursing the tail to get the Dons towards 200 when 250 plus looked likely early on. Howie produced his two customary late wickets including a great catch by Umi, and at tea we were happy with the chase of 197.

Howie and Ryan started circumspectly against Aberdeenshire’s pace attack, with Ryan surviving a confident appeal for a catch behind in the second over. Unfortunately Howie was unable to keep his recent run of form going, and edged West to Smith for a duck. This brought Tom and Ryan together in what promised to be an important partnership. Both hit a couple of sweet boundaries before recalled ex-Scotland seamer Kevin Thomson was brought into the attack. His first ball was a half track loosener and TC’s eyes lit up as he saw it coming, sadly a thin edge to the keeper ensued and we were 25 for 2. Ryan and Bobby then built a solid partnership with some excellent shot selection by both. The introduction of leg spinner Astle was to be the key. First he dismissed Bobby for 36, then quickly AB played round a full toss to fall for 4. With Beast injured and unable to grip the bat we needed to stop losing wickets. Unfortunately Ryan was bowled round his legs for 62 and Umi was caught in the same over, leaving us 130 for 6 after appearing to be cruising.

We still had players capable of seeing us home with plenty of overs to spare, and Chic and Drummy set about doing the job. Seeing off the pro with no further wickets down was vital and with the score on 162 with 8 overs left and the rain starting, it was evenly poised. Chic then edged a very wide delivery that should have gone for 4 and Richie came in at 9. Drummy was caught on the boundary a couple of overs later and the injured Beast came out at 10. Unfortunately he was caught in the covers first ball and the last pair required 25 for what now looked an unlikely win.

Richie thought otherwise and good striking and running with Sam left us needing 10 off the last over to be bowled by MacRae. This came down to 6 off the last ball which was bowled short outside the off stump. Richie played a tremendous back foot smash over extra cover, however it bounced around 10 yards inside the boundary to leave us an agonising one run short.

If only the umpire had been watching when MacRae was run out, it would have been a tie!

In all honesty we should have had enough to win this game without help from the umpires and hopefully we will learn from this experience for the run in. With leaders West of Scotland losing for the first time, our 5 bonus points leaves us in 2nd place only four points behind Aberdeenshire.

Finally, an apology to our Australian readers. The club photographer was unable to make the game on Saturday, as he was playing for the third team up in Aberdeen. We are reliably informed that normal service will be resumed in 2 weeks time for the visit of West of Scotland.

Aberdeenshire Batting
Player name RunsMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 10 wickets
0
197 (0.0 overs)		     
T Astle Caught  56
K Reid Caught  0
N MacRae Run out  22
C Smith Stumped  56
M Hays Bowled  1
S McGillewie Lbw  7
W Anderson Run out  22
K Thomson Bowled  0
R Lamb Caught  4
T Buchan Not Out  12
C West Caught  5

Forfarshire Cricket Club 1st XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Sam Tilston8.012700.003.38
Richard Gallagher4.0127127.006.75
Umair Mohammed10.0037218.503.70
Ryan Watson10.0035135.003.50
Tom Cooper6.0020120.003.33
Aman Bailwal6.0023123.003.83
Graeme Garden5.5025212.504.29

Forfarshire Cricket Club 1st XI Batting
Player Name RMB4s6sSRCatchesStumpingsRun outs
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 9 wickets
0
196		        
Graeme Garden Caught  0
Ryan Watson Bowled  62 1
Tom Cooper Caught  10 1 1
Robert Cannon Lbw  36
Aman Bailwal Bowled  4
Umair Mohammed Caught  9 1
Graham McLelland Caught  11 1
Peter Drummond Bowled  16 1 1
Richard Gallagher Not Out  27
Greg Stewart Caught  0
Sam Tilston Not Out  2

Aberdeenshire Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
C West4.0119119.004.75
T Buchan10.0332132.003.20
K Thomson10.0030130.003.00
S McGilliewie10.0040220.004.00
T Astle10.003448.503.40
R Lamb4.002300.005.75
N MacRae2.001000.005.00

  • Umpire :
  • Scorer :
    R.Milne