Stonehaven captain, Clive Hinchcliffe, again won the toss and decided to put the home team into bat on what looked a good but soft wicket, despite the sunshine.
The Stonehaven attack was led again by Clive Hinchcliffe and Andrew Long, who continued off as they had done from last week with some tight initial overs, giving very little away. It was Andrew Long who got the breakthrough in his second over, having the first Banchory opener caught by David Crozier and then following it up next over by getting the umpires approval for a leg before decision leaving Banchory 2 wickets down for 8 runs on the board after 8 overs. This was to be Stonehavens last success for some time as Hassan and Starling of Banchory dug in to take the score on steadily.
Despite ringing the bowling , Vanderuit and Milne, luck was not with Stonehaven. Alex Kieth bowled a very good spell with no reward as Stonehaven missed a sharp chance and the Banchory batsmen rode their luck. It was not until the introduction of the spin twins, Crozier and Wilson, at both ends that Stonehaven got the breakthrough at 95, David Crozier having the other Banchory opener, Hassan, well caught by Milne in the deep for 45 and Andy Wilson picking up 4 wickets at the other end including 2 sharp stumpings by Milroy. This however brought the hard hitting Banchory captain, Donald, to the wicket who along with Omar took the Banchory total to a respectable 195 for 7 of 46 overs, the Banchory captain finishing on 68 not out but using the extra over as the wicket appeared to be getting easier as the hot sun and breeze dried it out. Pick of the Stonehaven bowlers were spin twin number 1, Andy Wilson, 4 for 41 of 9 overs, Andrew Long 2 for 20 of 7 overs in his opening spell and did not return due to injury and the other spin twin, David Crozier, 1 for 36 of 7 overs.
Alex Keith and Ali Milroy opened as usual and made their usual steady start with the bad ball being dispatched to the boundary. Then in an unfortunate incident Alex Kieth top edged a full toss from the Banchory opener up into his face and had to leave the field to get attention to stem the flow of blood from a nasty injury. He was replaced by Denis Garden and together with Milroy, who was beginning to take a liking to the bowling took the score to 74, a solid foundation, before Garden was caught trying to lift the ball over the infield. David Crozier was next in but did not last long and unusually he missed a straight full toss and was bowled . This brought Alex Kieth back to the wicket suitably repaired and bandaged.
This brought about an assault on the Banchory bowlers as both Keith and especially Milroy took revenge. They took the score to 137 before Keith was out for 28, as like Crozier, missing a straight one, much to his disgust. This brought James Crozier to the crease who batted very sensibly to the end for 10 not out. At the other end Milroy proceeded to destroy whatever Banchory bowler was brought on and in a show of awesome hitting took the score from 137 to the winning total, 196, in the following10 overs and in the process completed his maiden century for Stonehaven, hitting 6 sixes and 15 fours to finish on 116 not out and take Stonehaven past the Banchory total to victory by 7 wickets in the 35th over.
This was a very good win for Stonehaven but the star of the show was undoubtedly Ali Milroy leaving the Banchory bowlers to lick their wounds, hopeful of not meeting again in the near future. Match ball was sponsored by Station Hotel.
Stonehaven's next match is on Saturday at home to Inverurie starting at 1pm, all supporters welcome.