1st XI
The successful cricket teams win on the road, regardless of the playing conditions before them.
Last Saturday’s visit to Bannockburn saw the Aberdeenshire players experience a very different ground to Mannofield. They did however, stick to their task well and this result was seldom in doubt.
The St Modans’ openers struggled against the accurate seam attack of Cameron Brown and Lewis Munro. The ‘Shire fielders backed the bowlers up well, engineering two run-outs. With the home side clearly short of runs, the scene was set for our spinners to cash in and Calum captured a couple of victims. However, pride of place on the day went to Manu Saraswat who took four wickets in a very short spell, including a hat-trick!

The opposition having been bowled out for just 91 runs, victory appeared close at hand, though the weather might have proved a real threat! Darkening skies and a poor forecast tempted David Gamblen to juggle with his order, putting Cameron Brown in at the start with Kenny Reid: an understandable tactic which unfortunately did not work, as the hard-hitting South African fell cheaply. Batting at three, Manu played steadily again while first Kenny and then Lewis accelerated the run-rate and we reached the target in just over twelve overs.

A very good day’s work for our side, while all the other fixtures were rained off!

This weekend Aberdeenshire have no fixture and we will watch with interest the other results throughout the Union.

Juniors
The grim weather spoiled arrangements for our u14s who were due at Dalnacraig last Sunday to face Dundee High. Junior coaches face serious challenges at this time of year if the weather lets them down. So many of their matches are in knock-out competitions with very tight schedule needed in the early stages. Squeezing in hastily rearranged games often requires very clever planning. You have my sympathies, Phil! News of the re-planned visit to Dundee will appear later.

3rd XI
Fixture alterations and fate have rule that only the third eleven has a fixture this Saturday; selection will be intriguing as many players would normally be hoping for a match. Hopefully a healthy contingent of our talented youngsters will have the chance to do battle with Dunecht at Mannofield on Saturday.

1st XI
On Sunday our senior players have to go to travel to meet Eastern Premier side, Falkland in a twenty/twenty match. A number of our lads are on holiday this week-end, but we will go there, intent on causing an upset in this less predictable genre of our sport.