The Grades cricket season enters its final month at the weekend, with attention focussing on the outcome of the various knockout competitions as well as the outstanding league, promotion and relegation issues.

As regards the former Gordonians start a sequence of three weekends in which they could make a clean sweep of the junior cups, while their higher-placed league opponents, Knightriders, 2^nd St Ronald and Cults-artisans will look to complete league and cup doubles – or in the case of Cults a promotion and cup double.

The Final for the mPOWER Cup has been scheduled for the 2nd August 2010 at the Forfar Cricket Ground.

August 1^st – Johnston Cup – 3^rd Gordonians v Knightriders at Inverurie.

There were once again few surprises in the top division of the Thistle sports Grades on Saturday, as Bon Accord comfortably defeated a 9-man Inverurie side, currently in free fall towards the relegation zone; while an undefeated 69 from Kapil Laghate steered Cults to a narrow win in a closely-contested game against Kintore, and Ellon defeated Stonehaven in the first leg of their league-cup double over the weekend.  Veterans Jeremy Moir and John Eagles combined to enhance Grammar FPs’ chances of Grade 1 survival, but fell a wicket short of enforcing victory against Mannofield at Rubislaw.

It was a day when youth was to the fore in the Aberdeenshire Grades as 12-year old Niall Critchley took two wickets for 2^nd Banchory  in their Grade 2 defeat by Caledonian, while for Stoneywood-Dyce 11-year old Abdullah Afridi combined with Colin Moir, nearly 40 years his senior, in a century sixth-wicket partnership for the Peoples Park side, which steered them to victory over 2^nd Mannofield at Sheddocksley.

Elsewhere it was matters much as usual as Bon Accord consolidated their position at the top of Grade 1 with a comfortable eight-wicket win over Banchory at the Links, with another undefeated half-century from Fazal Awan, while Cults brushed aside the challenge of Inverurie at Kellands Park, Kintore further consolidated their position against Mannofield, and Ellon recorded an expected win over Grammar FPs at Rubislaw.

Some of the youngesters who have played their Cricket in the ACA Grades represented the Caledonian North Regional Academy U16 versus Tayside/Fife Regional Academy U16. To read more click here

Thu 15th July - Grades Select v Scotland Presidents XI at Mannofield - POSTPONED (tba) - DUE TO ADVERSE WEATHER

WEDNESDAY 14^th JULY 2010

In typical Scottish weather the under 30's and Over 30's battled it out at rain swept Ellon yesterday afternoon in the penultimate Fixture in the Aberdeenshire Cricket Associations Festival Week. Despite the weather the game was played in good spirit with the scheduled 45 over match reduced to 40 after the first break for rain thereafter an early tea and further reduced to 30. The Under 30's side eventually ran out winners by a mere 8 wickets.
Highlight of the after noon was the 118 not out by Joe Garner of Queens Cross for the winners just eclipsing the 77 by George Hadden of Inverurie for the Over30's.

TUESDAY 13^th JULY 2010 - Report to follow

Presidents XI 131 (T Wilkinson 22, T Butt 20; B Anderson 2-10, M Jones 2-10, M Fyffe 2-23).
Vice-Presidents XI 133-6 (E Spearman 31, K Swami 24; A Rennie 2-26, J Jessiman 2-27).

MONDAY 12^th JULY 2010 - Report to follow

City XI 194 (R Narula 56, M Assiter 39; R Greenfield 4-34, J Jessiman 2-31, A Nalam 2-39).
Country XI 104 (H Wolrige-Gordon 19, B Campbell 12; M Assiter 5-32, R Narula 2-12, M Jones 2-25).