MCC at Lords sorry Lairds

The third XI once again ventured away from home to play Methlick at possibly one of the most picturesque grounds in the Grades. The toss was lost and we were asked to bat on the best wicket of the season so far.

The innings got off to a slow start with some impressive bowling Murphy and Jones, Steve Elliot was unlucky to deflect the ball onto his helmet then pad the wicket! After that A Mayeker and S Reddy setled into the task at hand with A Mayeker playing some absolutely sublime cover drives more suited to Lords than Lairds. Reddy fell for a well constructed 35 only for S Rane to join Mayeker in playing booming drives all round the ground. Mayeker got to 88 in quick style only to dance down and miss a straight one when he look destined to complte a second ton for the club.

Rane was joined by Johnston who nudged the ball around giving Rane the majority of the strike. Rane eventually fell caught for 60. At this point D Gamblin a late call up came to the crease with the team needing quick runs for an early declaration. Johnston and Gamblin ran hard putting pressure on the more senior Methlick fielders as neither batsmen was smashing the ball out the park, this was to change very quickly. Johnston hit a flat six past square leg next over and this turned out only to be prelude of thins to come as Gamblin hit 3 consecutive fours followed by a six. Johnston declared the innings at the end of the 42 over with Johnston on 37 N.O and Gamblin on 33 N.O .

After a very enjoyable tea with the highlight definately being the hot sausage rolls! S Ahmed and P George set about bowling out the Methlick batsmen.

S Ahmed who had struggled in the previous fixture was a new man bowling with accuracy and real movement, his figures of 12 overs 1-29 only tell half the story with the batsmen made to play nearly every ball.

Wickets fell frequently with S Rane and S (Golde Arm) Shorten with the best of the figures. C Shorten again bowled with great control putting the breaks on any draw ambitions the Methlick guys ever had.

The performance in the field was a marked improvement on the Stonehaven game with still some room for improvement.

The Methlick innings finished on 140 all out after a short rain delay and now we look forward to the table topping encounter with Bon Accord Saturday and The Shire cup fixture V 2nd St Ronald.