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Thistle bring an end to dismal run
Stonehaven Thistle 1st XI v Aberdeen Grammar School Former Pupils THISTLE started last Saturday's away game to Aberdeen Grammar FP at Rubislaw looking to resurrect their season after a dismal recent run of two draws and three defeats.
Grammar's recent relegation form gave them high hopes, however Thistle were without a number of key performers due to holidays, injuries and work commitments and it would prove to be a tough match up.
Skipper Milroy lost the toss and Stonehaven were inserted in to bat first. Milroy and partner Donald got off to a steady start, picking off the bad ball and showing plenty of respect to the experience and guile of Jerry Moir. Milroy was particularly harsh on the odd bad ball that came his way and was the dominant force in the partnership of 89, hitting two 6s and ten 4s in his fine knock of 62.
Unfortunately his departure when bowled signalled a mini slump. Donald lost patience with the slow bowling of Eagles and missed the ball, trying to smash him out of the park, while Kemp and Garden followed him quickly back to the pavilion.
The middle order steadied things for the visitors however, brothers David and James Crozier posting valuable knocks of 23 and 25 respectively, followed by stalwart Brian Campbell's intelligent batting with the tail for his quick fire 19 not out and Thistle ended up declaring after 44 overs with the score on 182 for 9. The spoils were shared out amongst the Grammar bowlers, Knudson, Eagles, Khan and Malik claiming two wickets apiece.
This gave Grammar a realistic target to chase down however they had failed to score over 150 since their promotion to Grade 1 last season so the gamble by captain Milroy appeared to be a calculated one. And the decision looked justified when Thistle's opening bowlers Hinchcliffe and Findlay bowled a tight opening spell of 8 overs for just 11 runs before the breakthrough was made.
Findlay, exploiting the absence of some of the first team regulars, was promoted to the first team and grabbed the opportunity with both hands.
He had opener Budd caught behind for 5 before the spin attack of Wilson and Campbell was introduced, Wilson claiming two wickets and Campbell, one.
At this point Thistle were in the box seat, Grammar on 51 for 5 after 18 overs and it looked like another loss for the city- based side before the game's momentum took a rapid swing in their favour.
Needing 5 and over off the last 10 overs to win, the game was finely balanced and despite the best endeavours of the Grammar batsmen, wickets continued to fall at regular intervals to the accurate bowling of opening pair Findlay and Hinchcliffe, supported by David Garden.
Findlay had opener Lord caught in the slips by Denis Garden for a very patient 72 and the writing was on the wall for the home team. They quickly lost the remaining 3 wickets with the score on 164, just 19 short of victory.
Wickets were shared amongst the Stonehaven bowlers however key mentions must go to Clive Hinchcliffe for his miserly spell of 11 overs for just 15 runs, one wicket and to Calum Findlay for his 11.1 overs 5 wickets for 34 runs.
The match ball was sponsored by The Station Hotel.
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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
