Methlick Vs Ellon
Saturday 9th June

Report by Callum Petrie

There were shades of Edgbaston 2005 at Laird’s on Saturday as Ellon 2nd XI failed to leave Methlick with victory by the narrowest of margins after a thrilling finale. With Methlick 2nd XI needing only six runs to win with five wickets in hand the game seemed dead and buried, before the Ellon men staged a remarkable fightback, eventually falling short and losing by just one wicket. Ellon batted first on a good wicket and didn’t get off to the best of starts as Ean Mackie edged his first ball to the wicketkeeper for a duck. Conditions were difficult for the batsmen early on, with the humid air and thick cloud cover giving the Methlick opening bowlers plenty of swing.

Methlick alternated between an over of inswing from one end, and an over of outswing from the other. And with the cloud clearing unexpectedly at short intervals the batsmen had to think on their feet. After Charlie Adams was caught off Campbell for 4, Sunni Bhatti looked set for a significant stay at the crease only to edge a delivery on 7 which lifted unexpectedly.

At 13/3 Ellon had their backs to the wall but a partnership of 35 between captain Ian Duncan and the promising Tom Proctor steadied the ship as Ellon strived to reach three figures and stay in the game. A thick covering of grass meant a slow outfield and little chance for boundaries along the ground - there were only two 4s in the Ellon innings. With this in mind, Duncan let loose with two consecutive 6s off a seething Campbell. Tom Proctor elected to craft singles through the gaps, before he was eventually bowled by Carr, and can be happy with his hard-earned 17.

Methlick bowler Anderson claimed the prize scalp of Duncan, who after looking set for a big score, fell for 22. With number six Hassan bowled by Acton for 1, Stuart Langley came to the crease and saw off some nippy bowling before losing his stumps on 10 to the bowling of Anderson. Scotland Ladies international, Fiona Campbell, made 4 at number nine before she was bowled by Carr. Although a leg spin specialist, Fiona was getting in some valuable batting practice with her home club before departing on Sunday morning for Northumbria to represent her country. Steve Harley inched the Ellon total towards three figures with a useful 6 before he was caught and bowled by Carr. With Calum Petrie holding up one end on 93/9, Lawrence Meikle took the visitors’ score past 100 with a four and six off Campbell before holing out for 17 off the bowling of Anderson.

Ellon did well in batting for 42 overs, and with 103 had kept the game competitive as the two teams filed into the Beaton Hall for a well-deserved tea. Chasing 104 for victory, Methlick made a steady start under openers Anderson and Carr in cooler conditions. Carr made an assured 20 before he was bowled through the gate by Hassan, who had also cleaned up Anderson, bowled for 6. Duncan then removed Colley-Davies and Hyde cheaply, with the game very much on at 53/4.

Shaw was eventually caught off the bowling of Bhatti for 17, before Tom Acton was clean bowled by Hassan. Hassan posed problems throughout the Methlick innings with a display of pace which is above the norm for Grade 4, and was well worth his eventual four wickets. Mention should also be made of young Methlick all-rounder Tom Acton who despite his years is more than holding his own this season among older and more experienced cricketers. His 3/17 with the ball and 18 with the bat was testament to a tremendous day’s work. With 15 overs and five wickets remaining Methlick were expected to polish off the six runs required for victory without much ado. However the home side somehow contrived to collapse from the seemingly unassailable 98/5 to 101/9. Gerrie was caught off Bhatti for 1 before Hassan’s pace accounted for Goodenough. With two wickets needed for victory, Ellon needed some inspiration. It arrived from young Tom Proctor who, as Woodhouse attempted a dubious single, spotted the opportunity and steamed in from short mid-wicket before aiming an inch-perfect throw at wicketkeeper Meikle, who whipped off the bails with the batsman a yard short, out for a duck without facing a delivery.

Methlick were feeling the heat and Ellon put the pressure on by bringing the field in six yards. However Campbell finished off a good day’s work on 16 not out with an angled single on the leg side to claim a dramatic victory for the Laird’s men. As the two teams shook hands after six hours of intense battle, all involved knew they’d been part of a tremendous game, a terrific advert for Grade 4.

Ellon 2nd XI: 103 all out (I Duncan 22, T Proctor 17, L Meikle 17; T Acton 3/17, B Carr 3/20). Methlick 2nd XI: 104/9 (B Carr 20, T Actopn 18, D Shaw 17; Hassan 4/34, S Bhatti 2/26).

Ellon 2nds take on their Banchory counterparts at the Gordon Park on Saturday, with a 1pm start.