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Win sets up Banchory for vital match
THE sun shined over the Burnett Park where Mannofield were the visitors and Banchory were looking to maintain their 100% record in June. They did not disappoint.
Finally the laws of probability prevailed as home Skipper Sajid Hasan lost the toss and Banchory were put in to bat on a Bob Murray prepared track.
Wajahat Ali opened the batting with Hasan and the first ball of the day was hit for 4. Banchory got off to a flying start with 21 off three overs, before a mix up with the calling saw Ali run out for a rapid 14.
Counsell came to the crease but didn't last long adding just 1 to the total before getting trapped LBW.
James Frost came out next and with his captain got after the bowling, Banchory were going at 7 an over and looking to put on a huge target.
A change of bowling was required for Mannofield and Rana replaced Burnett. He was successful in his first over with Frost (24) not getting through his shot and getting caught at mid-off. In the next over, controversy struck as Hasan (46) played and missed a ball from Ayaz, his bat hit his pad - an unmistakable noise - and the umpire decided he'd hit the ball.
Mannofield appealed for the caught behind and the batsman had to go, much to the disgust of one of his team-mates who had to be reprimanded by the umpire for abusive language.
When play resumed, Banchory were on 91 for 4. Two new batsmen were at the crease and they had to build again. Alex Starling was bowled for 1, Dave Itter added 9 before being caught and Arun Pillai made 6. Banchory were fast running out of batters and Ian Pennington picked up an early groin strain and required a runner for the rest of the innings.
With the score on 118 for 7, Matthew McPherson and Pennington steadied the ship and put the Mannofield bowling to the sword.
A 9th wicket stand of 67 boosted Banchory's total up to 185 before McPherson played pinball with the cricket ball, hitting his bat then his pad before rolling on to the stumps and getting bowled 2 short of his half century. McPherson is showing real form with the bat and his 48 including 9 boundaries was a match winning innings. With Banchory looking for quick runs to end their innings Craig Mason hit 5 before getting caught and Josh Crawley didn't trouble the scorers. This left Pennington not out on a very impressive and vital 24 which gave the Banchory bowlers a competitive total to defend.
Banchory's bowling tandem of Mason and Starling opened things up after tea but the batsmen settled in well. After 10 overs the score was on 28 and Hasan was considering a bowling change. He told Mason that his 6th over would be his last and this obviously spurred the bowler on as the second bowl produced the first wicket, an in-swinging yorker on leg stump sent Burnett packing.
Rana was next in but Mason wasnt finished, the final bowl of the over was a half volley on leg stump, the batsman clipped it off his legs but slightly in the air, and Alex Starling divedforward to take a sensational catch at square leg - pretty close to catch of the season so far.
Hasan did replace the openers a couple of overs later and brought himself on along with Josh Crawley. Hasan claimed a wicket in his first over, snaring the number 2 batsman LBW with a quicker one.
Youngster D. Gamblin was next in and settled in well along with his captain G. Johnstone, they added 42 to the total before Gamblin was bowled, becoming Ali's first victim. The floodgates then opened for Banchory - Hasan claimed two wickets in an over and Ali gained his second victim which saw the number 6, 7 and 8 batsmen all out for ducks.
Ayaz joined his captain at the crease, a couple of overs later Ali took the important wicket of Johnstone. The Mannofield skipper top scoring for his side with 33. Some lusty blows from Ayaz (17) boosted the Aberdeen sides total but he never looked like he was going to hang around and Arun Pillai was on hand to take a catch to give Ali his fourth victim.
Alex Starling was brought back into the attack and with his third ball he got the wicket his efforts deserved, bowling the last batsman and ending the Mannofield innings 72 runs short of the required target.
Bowling figures for Banchory were Craig Mason 2 for 24 in 8 overs, Alex Starling 1 for 24 in 8.3 overs, Sajid Hasan 3 for 19 in 10 overs, Josh Crawley 0 for 18 in 3 overs and Wajahat Ali 4 for 33 in 8 overs.
The win cements Banchory's position in fourth spot in the league, 6% off third placed Cults who are next week's opponents in what will be the biggest game of the season so far.
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Weather for Banchory
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 6 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: East
