Shire see off Forfarshire

Forfarshire were welcomed to Mannofield in the first home CSL fixture of the season and with familiar face Michael Leask in addition to Graeme Beghin as new recruits along with the batting power of previous years, this was set to be a tough ask for the Aberdeen side.

Aberdeenshire won the toss (taking Buchan to a career best 50/50 win ratio) and decided to give Forfarshire captain Wallace and Co first dig on what was a slightly undercooked wicket due to the weeks poor weather.

In conditions best described as fresh, (freeeeezing) Metronome Buchan picked up the wicket of lefty Parker (7) with a good delivery just clipping the top of off stump enough to disrupt the bails. Unfortunately the joy didn't last long as Buchan was then deposited (on 4th attempt) out of the ground and over the car park with a slog sweep from Wallace. Unconfirmed rumours state that the ball came back down with snow on it.

Overseas Graeme Beghin and Wallace came at the Aberdeenshire attack with a variety of sweeps and scoops, causing many a field change and taking the score past 50 in very brisk fashion.

It was Hayes Van Der Berg who made the breakthrough for the home side having Beghin caught behind for 10 and then followed that delivery up with one that nipped back at Scotland all-rounder Leask who saw his stumps disturbed without offering a shot.

VDB avoided paying for a jug by hitting his normal line and length for the hat-trick delivery, poor show from the South African, but huge inroads made into the Forfarshire batting order wobbling at 3 for 56.

Scotland A new recruit Scott Cameron then strode to the crease and joined a less frantic Wallace with Shire's change bowlers starting to dry up the boundaries and pull back a strong start from the batting side. Their partnership brought the score to 102 before Cameron (27) was dismissed by Buchan in his second spell.

Bar Wallace, who was dismissed second last man out for 70 by last weeks bowling hero Adrian Neill. No Forfs batsman passed double figures as VDB(7 overs 4 for 26) , Cooray (10 overs 1 for 22), new face George Gil, Chris Venske and a run out from Calum Jelly Arm Howard closed the innings at 149 off 41 overs.

The Aberdeenshire reply got off to a poor start again as Venske and Howard were both sent on their way to the pavilion for single figures by the off spin of Leask.

Overseas H's, Hayes and Harsha then restored order in the match by carefully rotating the strike and quietening a very vocal away attack before Van Der Berg (23) was brilliantly caught at mid off by a leaping Dale Sweeney leaving the home side 3 for 52 and the match precariously balanced

Graeme Tomlinson came and went for 1, bringing olympic rowing medalist Reid to the crease. Known for his bat handling when running between the wickets, he and Cooray took the score to 106 before Cooray was caught and bowled by Liam Sweeney who was about to make the Shire dressing room a touch nervous.

Left armer Sweeney removed Callum Martin and Gary Halcrow in successive balls for 0's as Reid watched on from the non strikers end looking for a partner with which to steer the chase from 107-7 to the target of 150 which was looking increasing difficult.

Reid found a partner in George Gil and in turn the two passed the total in the 44th over with the keeper ending one short of what would have been a well deserved half century for the 29 year old. Reid's mature innings used up 94 balls and contained five 4's and a lofty 6 over the scorebox.

Shire now look towards next Saturday with a tricky away trip to Watsonians who haven't registered a win so far but are definitely a side who can cause some problems. Myreside hasn't been a happy hunting ground for the Dons in recent years but the team will be looking to make it 3 on the bounce for the season.