This is very sound advice to all competitive cricketers and certainly to the players of Aberdeenshire Cricket Club for the coming week-end. The Mannofield Ultras can however, be forgiven for getting just a little excited, as we view the trophy prospects for the club over the next couple of weeks.

This weekend has seen both the firsts and seconds move closer to their title dreams by recording clear victories in their matches. At a busy Mannofield, the firsts were too good for Dundee High in a high scoring match. Lewis won the toss and understandably opted to bat on a dry, hard wicket, Ewan Davidson and Marcus Vila, duly built a promising opening partnership of 55 runs, until Ewan perished, after an uncharacteristic rush of blood had given rise to an ungainly miscue, resulting in our most durable batsman’s departure. This set-back was frustrating, but a further, avoidable mishap occurred shortly thereafter, when Marcus, batting confidently and looking set for a big score, fell victim to a communication break-down with his Skipper and was run-out for 40 runs!

We have all been in this situation and, irritating as it is for the dismissed batsman, the most important consequence is the onus that straightaway rests upon the survivor: to go on and score a significant innings. Lewis duly answered the call, casting aside his recent, modest form to build a splendid partnership with the incoming Kenny Reid. This pair batted sensibly, wisely cashing in on the easy batting conditions and mediocre opposition attack, to build a formidable partnership of 163 runs. In the process, Lewis was able to celebrate his first century of the season, only to depart after the next delivery. Kenny batted on and the crowd reveled in the delights of a brief cameo innings from the elegant Ethan Shedbal, who contributed a stylishly crafted 32 runs, as the innings closed on a formidable total of 310 runs.

This season, a different individual has chosen to shine each week from among our talent array of seam-bowlers. High School were always going to struggle to reach this testing total, but one over from Arnav Saraswat virtually ended all realistic hope of a major upset, when, towards the end of his pacy spell he removed three of the visitors in a Maiden Over! Stirring stuff, young Arnav! You have really performed well in 2026!

Dundee’s overseas player, Alexander Parthenis fought to add respectability to their display, with a defiant, rearguard action, before James Robb trapped him in front for a valiant 87 runs. Akhlaq showed admirable expertise thereafter, by dismissing the tail-enders cheaply; Dundee had fallen for just 158 runs. By this time news had filtered through that our two nearest rivals, Perth Doo’cot and Crescent/Dunecht had lost. We now have a clearer lead in the title race!

Next week, we face another giant test: we head to the Doo'cot in the north of Perth. The title run-in has been so close, that there have been no easy matches, but this one seems certain to be a cracker!

Inverurie was the scene of the latest challenge for our all-conquering second eleven. The Garioch lads have a modest league position this season, but, inspired by a fine innings of 64 runs by Chris Watson, they hoisted a challenging total of 174 runs. This could have been a difficult target to reach, but for the performance of our remarkable thirteen years-old, Oscar Vila. Oscar’s remarkable 70 runs giving the run-chase positive momentum; he received worthwhile support from Riyansh Kirodian and Ashfaq Bashir, but this was Oscar’s day; it was another hugely note-worthy feat at this fledgling stage in his career! These three batsmen did enough to see Rizwan Tahir smiling yet again at the end of the match! The run goes on!

While the first eleven are dualling in the lion’s den at Perth, Rizwan’s heroic eleven meets the mighty Bon Accord at Headquarters. The Bons lie perilously close on our heels, having won all but two of their matches. However, they now must defeat our lads to stay in contention for the title. This also, promises to be a fascinating tussle, of huge importance!

I believe team selection this week will be crucial. Hopefully, injuries will be few and we can field the twenty-two best players in the club for these matches.

Once again, our juniors have been a dazzling beacon in the club’s fortunes this season. 2026 has been a fabulous season for our youngsters and their management teams and supporters. On Sunday, our under 16 players had the chance to play a key cup-tie at home, as the Scottish Cup semi-final was staged at Mannofield. Club members appeared in numbers to support the youngsters and the stage was set for a ding-dong tie with the strong Stewarts/Melville squad.

We batted first, but were in serious trouble early on, when Marcus and Oscar Vila and Joseph Scotting each perished cheaply! However, these lads have played in several key matches just like this one and they refused to be blown away by the set-backs. Ethan Shedbal led the recovery with his customary flair and speed between the wickets; he found a most able ally in the ever-improving Vikaash Saravanan. Leo Wood joined in effectively with some lusty blows at the death and the final score of 135 runs looked very respectable indeed!

It is not often that the brothers- Oscar and Marcus Vila- both disappoint with the bat. It could be argued that they earned a reprieve in the field, as they demonstrated their all- round capabilities, being instrumental in the dismissal of no less than seven of Stewarts/Melville’s batsmen. In fact, this under 16 side is experienced in junior cup-tie cricket; these players performed with distinction in a bold campaign south of the border last year. Several of this eleven have begun their careers in adult cricket, achieving notable successes on the way. On Sunday, they kept their heads, while the Edinburgh lads succumbed to scoreboard pressure and fell short of the winning line by a clear margin of 30 runs. A match which had started anxiously ended in a well-earned win for Aberdeenshire; we head to Meigle on Sunday to meet Perth Doo’cot in the national final.

It was wonderful to see a junior occasion played out on Mannofield and the support from members and families was special. Everyone in the club wishes these talented young cricketers the very best of luck on Sunday!

While this marvelous show-piece of cricket was being acted out at Mannofield, a club member was playing with distinction on our behalf in the more modest setting of Inverdee. Umesh Basavaraju has served the club with great enthusiasm this season in his role as fourth team captain. Leading this side can be challenging for many reasons, but Umesh has been a positive and dignified Skipper. On Sunday, he batted boldly, in scoring rapidly with an array of strong hits to notch up a score of 64 runs; just a few more minutes from our hero surely would have swung it. His side were chasing a total of 188 runs by Grampian. Despite this flying start by Umesh and his opening partner, Vihaan Basavaraju, our fourths perished just 21 runs short of the winning post. Next week, Umesh is due to take his squad to Stonehaven.

The third eleven did not play this weekend, but they host Gordonians in the Duthie Park on Saturday. This is likely to be a close fought encounter.

The matches scheduled for this coming week-end are important; this has been a truly thrilling season to date. The senior citizens on the boundary have allowed themselves to dream of glories ahead; at times, several have struggled to contain their blood-pressures. The players however, have achieved their successes by remaining calm, believing and taking it one step at a time. Let’s focus once more on the task this week-end and be assured everyone at Mannofield is rooting for you all!