Dons chase down 237

Aberdeenshire lost the toss and were asked to bowl on a flat Mannofield pitch on a sunny July's day.

Early signs were ominous as Parker and Wallace seemed untroubled by the first 9 balls, but Hayes van der Berg induced an edge from Scotland international Matthew Parker and the Dons had their first wicket with only 5 on the board, they would have to wait a considerable time for the second!

Forfarshire proceeded to add 155 for the second wicket, the highest partnership for the second wicket in the CSL Eastern Premier this season. Wallace (122*) batted superbly on his way to a chanceless century and was well supported by Elliott McCandless who scored a patient 58. Pro Aaron Lilley scored a quick fire 31 to help boost the Forfarshire total to 239-3 from their fifty overs. Harsha Cooray and Hayes van der Berg bowling tight spells to restrict the visitors, well supported by Kenny Reid in his maiden bowling performance in the league for Aberdeenshire.

Aberdeenshire were without regular openers Chris Venske (broken hand) and Calum Howard (back strain) so callled upon the services of Shayanthan Nanthakumaran and Grant Jamieson to open the innings. Shay looked in great touch early on, getting off the mark with a trademark cover drive for four, and despite the loss of Jamieson in the fifth over the Dons started brightly moving to 83 off the first 20 overs for the loss of only one wicket.

Hayes van der Berg (45) was supporting Shay well and was able to find the boundary regularly, however he fell on the stroke of drinks with the score on 107 looking to force one away through mid-wicket only to find a leading edge which spiraled high to be taken at mid off.

Harsha Cooray was the new man in to join fellow Sri Lankan Nanthakumaran and the pair combined perfectly, rotating the strike well through the middle overs and punishing the bad ball finding the boundary throughout.

Shay passed fifty with ease which included a rare Nanthakumaran six,(his second ever according to spectator Phil Wood), and was well supported by Harsha who continued on from where he left off last week.

Approaching the last fifteen overs Aberdeenshire required 93 runs but Shay (100*) and Harsha (82*) never let the rate get beyond them as they continued to pierce the infield and find the boundary.

Shay was closing in on his maiden 1st XI hundred but had began to fear the runs required were running out, however, a lofted four brought him and the Dons over the line for a memorable victory and a fantastic personal milestone for a player who has played for every side in the club from u-11 through to first XI over a career which has spanned 20+ years at Mannofield.