Dons squeeze home by one run

Aberdeenshire won the toss and chose to bat first on a hard deck at Goldenacre. The Dons got off to the worst possible start as third ball of the innings Chris Venske was struck on the hand by a high beamer and was forced to retire hurt.

Hayes van der Berg (22) joined Calum Howard (20) set about building a partnership as they pounced on the loose ball, taking the score to 55 before Hayes perished to a leading edge, caught and bowled by Farrell. 13 runs later Howard was following Hayes back to the pavilion as he looked to force one over the top off the same bowler and was bowled.

Graeme Tomlinson joined Harsha Cooray at the crease and the pair were tied down initially by Heriot's spinners, culminating in Tomlinson being caught behind trying to run one to fine third man.

Chris Venske (20) returned to the crease after a spell on the sidelines and provided some lusty blows to help loosen the shackles and together with Harsha added 49 for the fourth wicket. Chris perishing to a slog sweep. We would later discover that Chris had suffered a broken hand, so his courage to return to the crease and play through the pain should be commended.

Kenny Reid (19) and Callum Martin (9) both struck some lusty blows off the spinners and were supporting Harsha nicely as he moved effortless through the gears.

His first fifty came off 67 balls, but once joined by fellow Sri Lanka Indika Yahathugoda (13*) he really started to motor, flaying the home attack to all parts as be brought up a magnificent 100 off the final ball of the innings, hoisting a huge six over the sight screen to close the innings on 237-6.

To seize control of the match Aberdeenshire needed to start well with the ball, but Heriots took the attack to the Dons and raced away to 62 from 11 overs as they managed to find the boundary amongst playing and missing.

The introduction of Rory Martin was crucial as he removed D.Ross (29) and P.Ross in the same over to swing momentum back Aberdeenshire's way. Gary Halcrow, on début, bowled a tidy spell from the pavilion end and at the halfway stage the game was finely poised as Heriots were 107-2, requiring 130 from the final 25 overs.

The next wicket was vital for the Dons as the experienced Steve Knox and home skipper Cameron Farrell were together at the crease. Calum Howard, in the middle of a tidy spell, managed to induce Knox into a false stroke caught at extra cover by Tomlinson for 63, after adding 60 with Farrell.

Harsha Cooray picked up a wicket during the powerplay overs to slow the Heriots chase and moving into the final ten overs the Dons had managed to force the rate up to 7.2 an over.

Heriots responded well however, as Farrell and Hearn combined to add 44 for the sixth wicket before Rory Martin returned to remove Farrell and swing the game back towards Aberdeenshire once more.

However this topsy turvy tie continued to swing the momentum between the sides as Hearn found the boundary to add twenty off 11 and 9 off the 48 and 49th over respectively.

This left the equation simple, one over left, eight required, plenty of wickets in hand. Hayes van der Berg to bowl the final over from the pavillion end.

W.1.1.1.4 read the first four balls of the over as Hayes clean bowled Jooste before Watt and Hearn added seven runs. With one ball left and all three results possible Hayes van der Berg produced a fantastic delivery to clean bowl Hearn (48) and send the Dons into wild celebrations as they snuck home by one single run.