Captain Hinchcliffe lost a vital toss and Stonehaven were asked to bat on a wicket freshened by a recent shower.
Stonehaven initially started well despite the lateral ball movement until at 20-0 the fourth over saw the introduction of Naro. What fo
llowed was a most impressive spell of seam bowling, Naro's third ball seaming back wildly from well outside off to take the leg stump of last week's centurion Keith for a mere 9 runs. Milroy's stumps succumbed to the same bowler two overs later after a sprightly 14.
Matters quickly progressed from bad to worse when the next three batsmen, Kemp, Jenkins and debutant Meier all departed for 0. Reeling on 30-5, J Van De Ruit hit two quick 4s before mistiming a pull to leave Stonehaven suffering at 44-6.
However the old guard of Campbell and Wilson, aided by a softening seam, steadied the ship through a combination of guile, experience and patience. Coming to terms with conditions both players dispatching fine boundaries in a much needed partnership of 44. However Naro struck back, bowling both Campbell and Wilson for 19 and 18 respectively. Hinchcliffe departed for 3 and became Naro's sixth and final victim, all bowled, returning figures of 6-28 off 12 overs.
A. Long then played a cameo role defensively supported by last man Sives. Encouraged by two 4s, Long tried for a single that never was and a direct hit saw him depart for an interesting 12, leaving Sives sitting on 1 n.o. Stonehaven all out after only 27.2 overs for 107.
In reply Cults attacked from the start and scored runs freely with several mistimed shots finding gaps and Sunny surviving a good early LBW appeal from Hinchcliffe. J Van De Ruit bowled a good early line, beating the outside edge several times without reward before tiring quickly.
It was the big hearted captain who threw Stonehaven a life line by first bowling Swapnil for 24 and then Vicky first ball. Sree barely survived the hat trick ball with a push that eluded the fingers tips of the outstretched Sives before being bowled by Hinchcliffe for 10. At 40-3 Stonehaven still had hope but from there on the game drifted quickly away from the visitors. A. Long and then Keith briefly joined the attack but Debo hit a swift 30 not out to bring Cults within sight of victory. The spin twins Campbell and Wilson were brought on at the death with the later taking the fourth and final Cults wicket of the day, trapping opener Sunny LBW on 26. Kapil then hit two consecutive sixes to end the game, with Cults victorious by 6 wkts.
The match sponsor was McHardy Butchers.
Stonehaven's next match is away to Gordonians where they will be chasing their first league victory this Saturday.
