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Kerr helps Thistle to narrow victory
Methlick 2nd XI 106 Stonehaven Thistle 2nd XI 110 for 9 LAST Saturday the second eleven hosted Second Methlick, hoping to get back to winning ways.
The weather was overcast and breezy, giving ideal conditions for swing bowling. Captain Dave Long Sr. won the toss and asked Methlick to bat.
Stonehaven were without several of their regular bowlers, so David Long Jr. and brother Andrew opened knowing that they would be given plenty of responsibility. Methlick started confidently with two of their first team players strengthening the side, but in David's second over he had Gerrie caught at point by his brother.
After eleven overs Methlick were scoring slowly but giving no chances, so Gouws and Gibson were given the chance to break through. Gouws immediately had Kennedy caught behind while Gibson tied down his end with some accurate bowling. He then bowled the dangerous Duffy and had Sunny caught taking 2 wickets for 8 off his 6 overs.
Coulthard and Campbell also bowled some useful deliveries, but as the Methlick batsmen were not giving away any chances the skipper brought his openers back on with the score on 79 for 4. Andrew then produced a phenomenal spell of blistering pace, clean bowling 2 wickets in his first over back.
David Jr. had England caught by Kerr, Andrew had Allen caught behind by his father and then David cleaned up by bowling Ritchie. Andrew finished with 4 for 30 off 10, David with 3 for 11 off 10. The last 6 batsmen only scored 5 runs between them. With a depleted bowling line-up Stonehaven did well to restrict Methlick to 106, but as 42 of these were extras the bowlers know where they can improve.
Crozier and Gibson opened the batting and immediately found Duffy a very difficult bowler to face, getting useful bounce and swing and bowling with good accuracy. Carr bowled from the opposite end and was also able produce some awkward swing.
Gibson was caught behind off Carr, then David Long Jr. was bowled by Duffy. Hinchcliffe looked comfortable until he was caught at silly mid-on defending to Duffy, followed soon after by Crozier, caught and bowled by Duffy. When Swallow was run out in the next over the score was 19 for 5 and Stonehaven's chances looked to have gone.
However captain Dave Long Sr. and Kerr set about re-building the innings with extraordinary patience and plenty of skill. Sensing that Methlick had few bowling options they saw off Duffy's spell of 12 overs with no further chances. Duffy finished with the remarkable figures of 3 for 7 off 12.
Carr was replaced by Sunny who then left the field injured, and the batsmen gradually started to dominate the game. Kerr hit some powerful pulls and sweeps, while Long Sr. kept rotating the strike without giving any chances. Once Long was bowled Campbell continued the good work, patiently defending any straight balls, then punishing any loose deliveries. He easily hit a no-ball for six over square leg and hit fours regularly.
At 91 for 6 Kerr was finally out, lbw for 29 going for another sweep. Kerr had batted out 29 overs against some skilful bowling in very difficult conditions. His final score of 29 does not do justice to the match-winning nature of the partnerships of 42 and 30 with his captain and Campbell.
With the next ball Gouws was out in unusual fashion. A well struck ball was heading for veteran Allen who deflected the ball away from his face and on to bowler Carr who took the catch. Campbell was bowled by Sunny for 29 when the score was 106 for 9, bringing Andrew Long out to join Coulthard. Coulthard finished the innings with a powerful square pull for four, and this exciting match finished with Stonehaven winning by one wicket.
For his marathon match-winning innings Steve Kerr was named Man of the Match. The match ball was sponsored by Keith Douglas Construction. Next week the second eleven are hosts to Dunecht first XI.
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Weather for Stonehaven
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 3 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: South
