As the grades cricket season enters its final two months, speculation is mounting as to whether Bon Accord will go through the league season with an unblemished record, and make a clean sweep of all the trophies for which they are eligible.  Their victory over closest rivals Cults in last weekend’s only scheduled game between the two sides in the league – play having been washed out on the opening day of the season – means that they now have a healthy 20 point percentage lead at the top of Grade 1; and they are unlikely to be troubled this weekend by Gordonians, whom they have already defeated in both the Small Clubs and Turriff cups as well as the league this season.

Cults meanwhile face a potentially tricky trip to play Stonehaven at Mineralwell Park; while Ellon, who have moved above Cults into second place meantime, host Mannofield at the Gordon Park.  Inverurie travel to Banchory, while bottom side St Ronald take on Kintore, who are surely due a run of good results after an indifferent run of league form earlier in the season.

At the top of Grade 2 leaders Grammar FPs should prove too strong for a struggling Artisans side; while a close encounter is anticipated between second-placed Crathie and third placed Queens Cross.  Methlick and 2nd Banchory will look to maintain contact with the leaders away to 2nd  Cults and 2nd Kintore respectively.

The Committee would be grateful if any clubs could provide venues for the following Cup games:

Saturday August 1st – Johnston Cup Final – This is a league day, so choice will be restricted: Sheddocksley, Kings College or Countesswells 2 look to be the only obvious choices in town?

Sunday August 9th – Reid Cup Final

Sunday August 16th – Bon Accord Cup Final

The Aberdeenshire Cup Final is at Mannofield on Sunday August 30th

Please could you contact David Jones on 01224 822835 or email d.jones@abdn.ac.uk

SCOTLAND v CANADA

Scotland take on Canada in a 4 day ICC Intercontinental Cup commencing on Thursday 2nd July 2009 at Mannofield starting at 11:00.

Thereafter, 2 one-day internationals on Tuesday 7th and Wednesday 8th July also at Mannofield starting 10:45.

Bon Accord continue to dominate the top of Grade 1 despite the batting performance for Cults from N. Jadhav (47) as they comfortably beat last years champions; Cults could only reach a total of 121 restricted by the bowling of F. Awan (5-21) and supported by N. Mirza (2-30). Hot on the trail of the leaders, hoping for the leaders to slipup, are Ellon who continued with their winning streak by easily dismissing Gordonians for 87 led by the bowling for Ellon from R. Wade (5-28) and S. White (2-8). Meanwhile at Castle Road the visiting neighbours Inverurie’s total (113) was not enough, as Kintore surpassed the total without loss led by the undefeated batting of D. Grayson (54no) and G. Prosser (52no). Down at the beach Mannofield were unable to chase down the substantial Banchory total (215 for 5) led by centurion S. Hassan (110) and supported with bowling from D. Masud (5-49). At Kings College the visitors Stonehaven supported by the bowling of D. Crozier (5-22) got the better of St Ronald despite a half century from A. Deep (53).

In Grade 2 AGSFP continue to occupy pole position as they restricted Fraserburgh’s total to 90 led by the bowling of skipper R. Knudson (5-11) and A. McDonald (4-19). Meanwhile down at Balmoral Castle, Crathie’s total (155) led by the batting of S. Poole (63no) and despite the bowling effort for 2nd Kintore from D. Vegas (5-31) proved too much to chase down for the struggling 2nd Kintore side as they were restricted by the Crathie bowling from W. Slee (4-12) and B. McAra (4-20) and were all dismissed for 70. At Duthie Park Caledonian’s low total (88) was easily overtaken by the 2nd Cults visitors. Across town at Harlow, Queens Cross’s total (112) was comfortably overtaken by the visiting Methlick side, with pick of the batting and bowling for Methlick from M. Woodhouse (40no) and S. Gurmett (4-11) respectively and batting and bowling for Queens Cross from Rory Taylor (39 and 3-30). The Burnett Park pitch at Banchory continues to be prone to flooding as another fixture; this time against Artisans is postponed.

Following the Grade 3 game between 2^nd Methlick and Crescent, played at Lairds on June 6^th, there was a complaint and subsequent investigation by the Association’s Disciplinary Committee; as a result of which one Methlick player was suspended for 3 matches under auspices of the Association for breach of the Spirit of Cricket; and the clubs were formally recommended not to select the other protagonists in the incident involved for the Reid Cup Quarter-final between the same two teams which was held on June 21^st

In Grade 2 2^nd Banchory’s youngsters Z. Crawley (30no), S. Hicks (22) and bowling from C. Dickinson (4-20) along with the more experienced bowling of T. Wilkinson (5-38) restricted the Fraserburgh total to 125, which they comfortably overtook. In town AGSFP’s bowling attack led by J. Miller (5-19) helped secure their pole position in grade 2 at the expense of 2^nd Cults who were bowled out for 80. Over at Duthie Park the home side Caledonian set a total (174) that proved too much for the out-of-town visitors 2^nd Methlick who could only manage 83. Over at Harlow 2^nd Kintore’s fate seems to be sealed with an early plunge back to Grade 3 as they were skittled out for 19 by Queens Cross led with the bowling attack of Gavin Jamieson (4-8) and Robin Taylor (4-10). Meanwhile down at Balmoral Castle, Crathie’s total (180) proved too much for the Duthie Park visitors despite the efforts of R. Munro (55) for Artisans as they were bowled out for 127, with pick of the batting and bowling for Crathie from R. McEwan (50) and R. McAra (5-21).