Dons slip up in capital

After an hour's rain delay Aberdeenshire suffered the worst possible start, loosing three quick wickets with only three runs on the board as Calum Howard was caught behind, Chris Venske played round a straight one to be trapped LBW and Graeme Tomlinson was caught on the crease and bowled.

With the score on 38 there was a monumental mix up between Harsha Cooray and Kenny Reid, which resulted in the former having to return to the pavilion despite his efforts to send Reid back for the single.

Significant partnerships were hard to come by for the Dons and when Reid chipped one to mid off for 27 and Calum Martin was caught behind next ball the Dons were in real trouble at 60-6.

Daya Singh (19) and Neil MacRae (29) added 40 for the 7th wicket to hoist the Dons to 100 but Singh chased a wide delivery and became M.Legget's third victim. MacRae soon followed as an attempted pull was mis-timed to mid wicket and at 119-8 the Dons were fading fast. Some late order parternships between Tyler Buchan (20), Rory Martin and Adrian Neill helped the Dons see out their overs and post 152-9.

After the interval early breakthroughs were required but the Dons were hoping for more than the two wickets they claimed in the opening 13 overs as Buchan and Singh both struck.

Harsha Cooray was introduced into the attack and got the vital wicket of home captain E.Chalmers for 10 and with the score on 59-3 the Dons had hopes of restricting the hosts.

Spin was the order of the day as Neil MacRae (8 over 0-13) and Calum Howard (5 overs 2-17) turned the screw on the hosts reduced them to 99-7 through some fine bowling.

P.Legget (21) joined Easton (45*) and the pair added a vital 47 for the hosts as they got within sight of victory. Tomlinson running Legget out in the 47th over to give the Dons a glimmer of hope, but Sadler repelled the Singh onslaught and saw his side over the line for victory.