Dons win low scoring encounter

Graeme Tomlinson who top scored with 52* (Picture by Peter West)

Aberdeenshire continue their strong early season form with a 47 victory against a strong Carlton side. Winning the toss Aberdeenshire chose to bat first on a wicket that had seen some use.

The Dons suffered an early setback when Chris Venske was adjudged LBW off the bowling of Drummond. On a wicket that was slow and low, Calum Howard (26) and Graeme Tomlinson (52*) went about patiently building a partnership of 38 from 92 deliveries until Howard was trapped LBW by Gossain. Shire suffered a further setback on the stroke of drinks when Harsha Cooray was run out for 17 with the score on 65.

Kenny Reid was stumped trying to advance against Gossain shortly after, reducing the Dons to 74-4, which brought Neil MacRae to the crease.

Tomlinson and MacRae combined in a match defining partnership adding 60 from 110 balls, hoisting the score to 134 before MacRae was the latest LBW victim, falling to Mommsen. Some lower order scampering brought the Dons to 159-8 at the close.

Many observers would have thought this to be a below par score but with no team having scored above 130 against the Dons this season their was a strong belief in the camp the total could be defended.

The Carlton reply started at a good rate, with the Dons conceding 41 off the opening 10 overs, 13 of which were wides. Daya Singh did strike during his opening burst but the Dons had to wait till the 21st over for their second wicket, Matthew Hays leaping like a Salmon at extra cover to take a one handed effort off the bowling of Harsha Cooray, removing the dangerous Watts.

Cooray then struck again in his next two overs to reduce the visitors to 76-5. This procession of wickets had brought current Scotland YB40 captain Preston Mommsen and former Scotland captain Gordon Drummond together at the crease in what was a vital partnership for the visitors. The pair had effortlessly added 20 runs when debutant Ryan West struck a decisive blow, clean bowling Drummond for 8.

With 61 runs still required, it was up to the tail to stay with Mommsen if the visitors were to deny a fifth straight victory for the Dons. Enter Neil MacRae, who had bowled 7 economical overs before he struck twice in quick succession, first clean bowling Shah, and then, crucially, inciting Mommsen down the wicket only to sky a catch to Matthew Hays at mid-off.

With 51 runs still required and only three wickets in hand Carlton needed a rear guard action of Aberdeenshire vs Uddingston style proportions, however Daya Singh returned with devastating effect to remove the final three batsman for only 4 runs as Carlton were bundled out for 113.

A disciplined bowling display to force victory with only 160 on the board, the Dons now sit joint top of the Eastern Premier League and face the only other unbeaten side in the division, Arbroath United, next weekend.