A New Beginning.

Saturday April 19th saw Portcullis open their 2015 season with a friendly away to Gordonians at their home venue of Countesswells.

For Portcullis CC the season ahead is going to be one of rebuilding. The close season was a vicious one for the City Centre Green Caps. At the last count at least TEN players had decided to up sticks and move onto pastures new. The majority of those went to form a new club for the Aberdeenshire Grades, Siyapa II, whilst others went onto try their luck with other sides.

In the Grades it is fairly common for players to move from one club to another. What is not so common though is the volume of players to move during a mid-season. Two months ago this reporter was fearful that the Green Caps could be in dire trouble fulfilling their fixtures for the forthcoming season. A similar exodus during the last close season saw a club of similar circumstance, Caledonian CC, sadly fold as they could not replace the outgoing players.

It is with thanks to say that a vigorous advertising campaign through posters, social media, word of mouth and the website has seen at least five new players come to the club, all of which are new to the Grades and some of those new to cricket. Surely a good thing for Aberdeenshire Cricket. The remaining players and officials at Portcullis are to be thanked for battling on to keep the club ongoing. The Aberdeen Grades wants more, not less clubs to be competing therefore more not less players playing cricket.

As a result it will be a different looking Portcullis side for the 2015 season. This was never more apparent when, on Saturday, they had no fewer than FOUR players making their debut. Donning the Green Cap for the first time were Andrew Blackwell, Alan Cameron, James Harding and Hamish Mitchell.

Captain for the day, Ronnie Falconer, negotiated with his opposite number, Campbell Airey, to allow Gordonians to bat first. An arrangement that suited both sides. It would be best for Portcullis to field first in order to allow the debutants to get a feel in the game. It would also give the fringe bowlers and batsmen an opportunity to strike a claim in playing a prominent role for the Green Caps during the forthcoming season as well.

Portcullis, as they did in the same fixture last season opened the bowling with Bob Adie and Richard Collinson. Gordonians opened the batting with A. Dyson and C. Airey.

The opening 10 over exchanges were about even. Bob Adie bowled a fine spell of accurate slow bowling, his twirlers possessing a hint of drift as he finished his spell of five overs conceding only 4 runs with two maidens. Richard Collinson’s bowling was not so accurate and tight as Adie’s but he was rewarded with a welcome wicket when he beat the defences of Airey and bowled him, hitting the top of off stump.

Gordonians 32-1 after 10 overs.

The first changes of the day saw Ronnie Falconer come on for Bob Adie whilst James Harding replacing Richard Collinson.

The initial opening over forays saw Gordonians taking a liking to the first change Portcullis bowlers as they plundered 17 runs from the pair’s each opening overs.

It was not to go all Gordonians way though as Falconer was to be involved in the moment of the match. Tightening his line against the impressive left hander Dyson, Falconer’s first three balls were dots. Growing in frustration, Dyson drove a good length ball ferociously back in the direction of Falconer. Falconer, some 2 ½ stone lighter than from the previous season, rolled back the years to dive low to his right to take a spectacular one handed catch only inches above the astroturf wicket.

A spectacular one-handed catch! Gordonians 49-2. Dyson out for an excellent 32.

This brought S. Dalgano to the crease to join H. Doley at the crease. Doley had almost fell first ball to Collinson, glancing one to first slip where Falconer was too far back to take advantage of the error. Sadly the Green Caps would be punished for this missed opportunity.

The caught and bowled seemed to have inspired Falconer. The light breeze blowing across Countesswells 2 was beneficial to his outswingers and he was rewarded in his next over when he got one to swing from middle and leg to hit middle and off stumps and bowl the luckless Dalgano.

Gordonians 74-3.

This brought J. Potten to the crease to join Doley. The pair took the score onto 84 before Falconer struck again, bowling Potton who failed to trouble the scorers.

And for Portcullis, that was that.

Doley was joined at the crease by the new batsman Bhatia. Doley certainly had a degree of quality about his strokeplay. It came as no surprise then to hear he won the Grade 2 Batting Award of 2014 with a batting average of 75.50. He demonstrated why as he serenely took his own personal innings towards 104 before retiring to give others a chance. The innings consisted of 12 fours and six sixes and it fair rocketed the Gordonians innings.

On retirement, Ashish came into bat. During this spell Portcullis tried their luck with club Skipper Dave Mitchell. Shovon Mostafa, Alan Cameron, Rob Owen and Hamish Mitchell. Alas despite their best efforts Gordonians finished on 253-4 from their 40 overs. Gordonians Bhatia finishing on 40 not out whilst Ashish finished on 31 not out. It had been a fine knock by the Countesswells team.

After a pleasant tea Portcullis went about their innings opening with Dave Mitchell and Dave Forbes.

For Gordonians the new cherry would be shared by the pairing of Dolman and Dalgarno. The first ten overs saw Portcullis move onto 31 without loss. It took a change in the bowling attack to bring about a break in the opening partnership. The wily off spin of Jones and the lively left arm over bowling of Junesa being introduced into the fray.

It was Jones who struck first. He induced Mitchell into driving one straight back at him and Jones completed the caught and bowled. Mitchell gone for a splendid 25. Portcullis 32-1.

From there on Portcullis wickets fell at a steady rate. Forbes trapped lbw by Juneja was followed by Mostofa holing out to Jones again from the bowling of Juneja. Harding was bowled by a fine inswinger from the same bowler.

It was then the turn of Potton as he bowled out Richard Collinson, Bob Adie and Andrew Blackwell. During this Rob Owen, with a plucky 13 was caught and bowled after some splendid spin bowling from Ramaiya. The other two wickets went to Gordonians stalwart Aaron Mundin. First up was the excellent stumping of Falconer, a momentary overbalancing onto the front foot was enough for wicketkeeper Bhatia to complete the dismissal. The last wicket fell when debutant Hamish Mitchell misjudged the line of a straight one to leave his fellow debutant Alan “The Nugget” Cameron stranded on 8 not out.

Portcullis 90 all out. Mitchell lead the way with a decent 25 but sadly only Rob Owen was the other player to get into double figures with 13.

For Gordonians, Juneja lead the way with figures of 3-4 from his 5 overs. He was backed up by Potten who took 3-30. Aaron Mundin finished with figures of 2-7 whilst Ramaiya and Jones finished with figures of 1-3 and 1-8 respectively.

It was a heavy defeat for the Green Caps but the match was an experimental one as it was about blending in and bringing on new players. It shows there is plenty of work is going to need done for the forthcoming season.

MAN OF THE MATCH.

Gordonians H.Doley wins it hands down for his splendid 104 retired. It was a fantastic knock that included 12 fours and six sixes.

PORTCULLIS MAN OF THE MATCH.

Although club Skipper Dave Mitchell had a fine knock of 25, the Portcullis man of the match was RONNIE FALCONER. Figures of 3-34 and that fantastic one-handed catch off of his own bowling swaying it towards him. Bearing in mind he write this, means he will be getting pelters form the rest of the guys at practice on Wednesday.

PORTCULLIS MOMENT OF THE MATCH.

Ronnie Falconer’s one-handed catch off his own bowling. Surely an early contender for catch of the season.

Monday, 20 April, 2015