Portcullis Cricket Club

We managed to get 8 players to Nairn for this friendly. The weather was good being sunny all the while we were playing.

We had our ex captain D Bowie playing for us and two others from Nairn to make up the team.

A. Dobey won the toss and put Nairn in to bat. It was agreed that any player who made thirty would walk and any player out for a duck would get a second chance. Bowling woud be 4 overs per man on each side with a maximum of 8 overs.

Last night's practice - cancelled because of the weather - has been rearranged for this evening (Thursday 18 June) in Duthie Park at 6pm.

Portcullis has achieved a remarkable number of records this year; most players lost to other clubs in a season (7 so far, including four to Gordonians in a single week), first successful attempt to bat out for a draw in living memory, and this week - lowest score ever. We were bowled out of the Johnston Cup by Queens Cross for a truly pitiful 19 runs, beating our previous lowest score by one run.

A terrific performance from the team allowed us to hold Queens Cross to a draw today.

Richard asked Alan to captain as it was probable he would have to leave early. Alan won the toss and asked QX to bat.  The weather held off and QX batted for their alloted 45 overs making a score of 169 for 5.

Some excellent batting from Portcullis followed using up the remaining 45 overs, not able to reach the target but enough to take what turned out to be a rather easy draw and deny Queens Cross the chance togo ahead of us in the grade.

After all the upheaval this week, this was a good showing by Portcullis who fielded only 9 men - the first time we've been under strength since 2003. A determined team performance in a high scoring game gave us 17 points, enough to keep us top of the grade despite suffering our first loss of the season.

Portcullis's early successes in the grade and the cup look unlikely to continue with the stunning news that Chetan, Rahul and Sony - our top three players so far this season - have all simultaneously decided to leave the club and join Gordonians.

This means that not only will we find it hard to continue to win games but actually means that, for the first time in 6 years,  we are unlikely to be able to field a full team for the remainder of the season. In fact, unless we find some more players we face the very real prospect of having to scratch games later this year.

We took on Stonewood-Dyce in the first round of the Jonton Cup last Saturday after three straight wins in the grade matches. Stoneywood won the toss and decided to field.

Our openers Krish and Sony batted well on a soft wicket and put on 56 before Krish was caught in the gully. Rahul and Cox was dismissed cheaply before Chetan who scored 16 was bowled. Sony eventually went being stumped for 55. TK had a short spell scoring 16 with 2 fours and a six.

Game two of the season and another win. Portcullis lost the toss and were put into bat. We posted a score of 160 and AGSFP tried hard but failed by 29 runs.

Good coin tossing and a brave decision by skipper Alan Dobey got Portcullis off to the perfect start to the season with a 9 wicket win over 2nd Dunecht last Saturday.

Jon Van Heerden is teaming up with Muir MacKenzie to take part in this years Mongol Rally, which will see them driving from Aberdeen all the way to Mongolia, recording their adventures and experiences of people, culture and scenery along the way. Most importantly, by taking part in this journey they will be contributing and hoping to raise as much money and awareness for their two chosen charitable causes, namely MercyCorps and Cash for Kids.

More details are on their web site - www.tripoholic.co.uk.