We are back on top in the see-saw race, that is the struggle for this year’s Strathmore Union title. While we were, for the most part, successfully navigating the challenges from Stoneywood/Dyce, Perth Doo’cot, leaders at the start of the day, were fielding an understrength side and ultimately lost out to the emerging, in-form side: Crescent/Dunecht. Three key members of the Perth outfit were serving disciplinary suspensions, following their recent match at Mannofield and the depleted line-up were edged out at Guthrie Park in a very low-scoring tie. Meanwhile, Strathmore recorded another victory this time over Freuchie in their climb up the table. Fellow contenders, Huntly survived a scare and held on for victory against the ever-improving Glenrothes; the Fifers come to Mannofield on Saturday in yet another intriguing clash in this most unpredictable of seasons. There is now a group of five sides, all in close contention for the title! We are the current leaders by a whisker!

The match at Peoples’ Park started worryingly for us; Lewis had stepped up to open the innings in a change to the line-up, but both he and Marcus Vila fell cheaply along with Akhlaq Bashir. Thus, with less than 20 runs on the board, we were three down. Kenny Reid was our best batsman in 2025; this season form has deserted him. On Saturday, his intense concentration and self-discipline were evident for all to see at the start of his innings. In contrast, joining Kenny for this testing spell, he was joined at the other end by an elegant stroke-maker: Ethan Shedbal; the youngster’s collection of well-timed sweeps and cuts lit up the match at this point, giving our innings impetus. Together, these two put on an important 59 runs partnership, before Ethan perished for 35 stylish runs. Ethan was followed by Jordan van den Berg, another batsman in need of a few runs.

To his immense credit, Jordan dug deep and played with great care from the start, while Kenny gradually accelerated his scoring, and together, they coped comfortably with the home attack. We have bemoaned the lack of profitable partnerships from our lads this season. By putting on a further 92 runs together on a very testing strip, it seemed to the Aberdeen Ultras on the side-lines that Kenny (59 runs) and Jordan (51 runs) had put us in a much safer place in this match. Moreover, two of our talented batsmen had played themselves back into form! In the end, having managed to last for our full quota of overs, we hoisted a total of 199 for 8. Not many chasing sides reach 200 runs on this ground; even I managed a wee smile at half-time!

This target ultimately did prove too much for the Stoneywood batsmen. Despite a battling effort by Kelly Angove, scoring a defiant 36 runs, this target was never seriously threatened. All hope was truly lost for our rivals, when James Robb struck to remove the resolute opener. Oor Robbo then went on to have a special spell of bowling, with remarkable results. The syncopated rhythm in James’ unorthodox action can confuse a number of batsmen at first sight. His tactic in the main is a very simple one; he tries to bowl a full length, often directly at the stumps. This is an aggressive line to adopt against the majority of late-order batsmen. On Saturday, he ran riot, recording 6 wickets for 6 runs in just five overs! Great figures and a special performance of accurate bowling!

A match-winning performance? On this occasion, I think not. The return to form of Kenny Reid and the run-scoring of Jordan van den Berg provided the team with a secure grip on this match by half-time.

Well done, lads on reclimbing the table. Let’s maintain our form on Saturday, when Glenrothes come calling.

Back at Mannofield, our second team batsmen were experiencing rather different batting conditions, as they followed the positive lead of their skipper, Rizwan Tahir, to build a challenging total against Cults on a splendid pitch. Rizwan (60 runs), Joseph Scotting (42 runs), Ashfaq Bashir (58 runs) and Isira Bandara (51 runs), all scored well; please pay particular attention to Izzy’s fifty! Meanwhile Ali Hashmi was in a subdued mood this week, scoring a mere 33 runs of 20 deliveries, including a paltry 3 sixes! Thus, at half-time, we had 272 for 4 on the board and Cults would have to bat well to chase that down.

A very good effort by a confident batting unit!

Cults fought bravely in an innings built round a fine display by Muhammad Hamza Ali, who scored 75 runs, but in truth, this target was never under serious threat; the gallant top-scorer ultimately fell to a run-out, in an effort to increase the scoring-rate. Thus, another victory was secured and we sit proudly at the top of Grade1, still undefeated.

On Saturday, we travel to Groat’s Road, to meet third-placed, reigning champions: Knight Riders. The outcome of one league match can never fully define a season, but the result of this match-up may prove very significant, when the championship concludes in August. Rizwan’s team has been magnificent so far this term. All we can ask is that they try to keep up their current standards!

Our thirds had no fixture this week-end, but our gallant fourth eleven maintained our 100% record on the day by overcoming Grampian at the Duthie Park. Our opponents set us a very challenging total of 198 runs all out; their score had been built around the fine efforts of Mo Shereef (59 runs) and Jaison Varghese (44 runs). Vikaash Saravanan and Mahad Firdous each captured a couple of wickets and the shrewd use of Lokesh Saraswat had slowed down our opponent’s lively scoring-rate. Thus, the target was challenging, but victory was by no means out of sight. It was very much in sight, after a virtual, match-winning partnership of 134 runs by our openers – Lokesh (72 runs) and Vihaan Basavaraju (86runs). Following this wonderful effort, the points were all but assured and the remaining batsmen did make it over the line successfully, to record a very noteworthy win for the fourths.

Splendid work, lads! Your reward for this first – class effort is a home tie against Methlick. This one should be winnable, I think! The thirds are currently scheduled to meet Fraserburgh at Stewart Park; this is a venue that may yet prove unsuitable for this fixture and an alteration is a possibility.

As always, we wish all our players the very best of luck next week-end!

I finish by congratulating Arnav Saraswat. The youngster has worked hard on his cricket and has rightly forced his way into the club’s first eleven on a regular basis. Indeed, in recent weeks, Arnav has opened our bowling and is a potent force in the attack, which has served us so well this season. Last week Arnav’s progress was rewarded by the national selectors, who chose him to represent his country as an under 17 international! The lads faced daunting opposition, in the shape of Derbyshire’s best under 18s. Speaking to Arnav, it was clear that he thoroughly enjoyed the challenging match-up at an outstanding venue: Repton School. This is another fine example of the wonderful, cricketing opportunities that many of our hard-working young players earn!

Well done, Arnav! As with all our fabulous youngsters, we are very proud of all your achievements!