PORTCULLIS MISS OUT IN NARROW DEFEAT.

Week Seven of the 2016 Aberdeen Grades Season saw Portcullis take to their travels to Mineralwall Park to take on Stonehaven for the first time in Grade Three.

Both sides have had contrasting starts to the season so far. Stonehaven have been battling at the top of Grade Three, lying in third spot, vying for promotion with Grampian and Siyapa. Portcullis, on the other hand, have been battling at the other end of the table lying in the third bottom spot as they battle to stay in Grade Three.

The weather was probably best put as ‘dreich’. A light drizzle mixed with a damp atmosphere pretty much hung around for the whole of the day and night. It was the type of day that could have easily gone either way in terms of being played or being called off.

Portcullis Skipper Dave Mitchell called correctly against his opposite number Devlin and invited Stonehaven to bat first.

Stonehaven and Portcullis would both have their skippers up front in the opening exchanges. For Stonehaven, Ray Von Gijssel would open the batting with Ross Devlin. For Portcullis it would be golden arm Shovon Mostofa who would open the bowling with skipper Mitch.

Although the pitch had looked a bit patchy, it did bounce true and despite the ends cutting up, stayed consistent throughout. A doff of my cap goes to the groundsman for keeping it so, especially as the covers had been torn overnight by unknowns.

Of the Stonehaven opening pair, skipper Devlin started the most fluently as he struck three sparkling boundaries from the bowling of Mitchell and Mostofa. He also became, to Portcullis’s relief, the first wicket to fall. Mostofa having produced inswingers previously, got one to go away slightly from Devlin’s outstretched bat. This caused the ball to pop up into the covers where Ross McKenzie was on hand to take a good catch in the end, at one point almost having misjudged the flight of the ball. Stonehaven 17-1.

Next man in for Stonehaven was Gale. He batted purposefully initially, looking confident with each stroke. Yet he was the man to go as he was a case of the Portcullis bowlers dovetailing nicely to combine to his downfall.

Mostofa was the initial troublemaker of Gale’s innings. Facing Mostofa’s third over, Gale defended well as Mostofa produced some cracking deliveries. His fourth ball of the over saw Gale shape to cut it through point. The ball pitched and spat quite decisively towards him. This left Gale scrambling quickly to block the ball before it careered into his stumps. Although he did well to keep out such a fine delivery, it affected his confidence and his initial poise.

Still reeling from the previous over, Gale was perhaps not in best shape to face a probing Mitchell over next. Mitch took full advantage, bowling the flustered Gale with his fourth delivery of the next over. Stonehaven 21-2.

This brought Stonehaven stalwart Dave Long to the crease to join Von Gijssel in rebuilding the Stonehaven innings. And rebuild it they did. The pair adding 48 for the third wicket. During this the pair saw off M & M (geddit… Oh please yourselves!) as the first bowling pair in the meantime.

Mitchell and Mostofa came off to be replaced by the raw but gifted Ross McKenzie and the comeback king Jayaraj Raj. Despite the pair bowling well in the initial exchanges, they were being defended stoutly by the pairing of Von Gijssel and Long, the pair giving little away although they were not racing away with it.

As is the often the case when a partnership like this is blooming, it takes something special to break that partnership. This came in the form of Portcullis legend Bob “Whispering Death” Adie.

Early in the innings Bob showed he had lost none of his unique fielding flair. Positioned at mid-off, a lusty low blow earmarked for four was killed stone death by one deft touch of the Adie cricket boot as he killed the boundary bound ball with an instep trap that Lionel Messi would have been proud of! This was received with rapturous applause from the Portcullis posse!

Adie was not done though. A forced single by the Stonehaven pair was to do for them. Their decision to take on the guile of Adie would be their undoing. A single by Long saw Von Gijssel take on the arm of Adie. Adie, with coolness personified, picked up the ball sharply and flicked it towards wicketkeeper Winstanley. By keeping the ball low, it got to the stumps quicker. Quick to leave Van Gysel ran out for 20 by some inches.

A wonderful piece of fielding. Stonehaven 69-3.

It was the turn of B. Campbell to join Long at the crease. The pair put on 17 runs in quick time.

McKenzie bowled well in his initial spell whilst Raj, after his initial burst, began to struggle. He was replaced by Philip who also struggled. This forced Mitchell’s hand to bring himself back on in order to take more Stonehaven wickets.

This he did with his first over back. He got Long to push at one a little too forcefully. By doing this the ball popped back towards Mitchell who was on hand to take a good caught and bowled. Long gone for a sound 16. Stonehaven 86-4.

Stonehaven seemed to have the healthy habit of, although losing wickets, continue to score runs at a decent rate. This continued when Andy Wilson joined Campbell at the crease. The pair took the score onto 102 before Campbell fell, being McKenzie’s first wicket of the day. Campbell pushing it into the offside where Mostofa was on hand to take a good catch. Campbell gone for a brisk 15. Stonehaven 102-5.

New batsmen Cohen looked initially uncomfortable at the crease as he joined Wilson. Looks can be deceiving though as he showed a fine eye for the full ball, hitting a massive six and a fine four as he enjoyed a partnership of 18 with Wilson before being McKenzie’s second wicket of the afternoon. A shortish delivery from McKenzie forcing Cohen to balloon one towards the slip area where Raj was on hand to take a simple catch. Stonehaven 120-6. Cohen gone for a rapid 15.

It was the turn of young Grundy to come to the crease to join Wilson, the pair putting on 31 as Stonehaven piled on the score. Wilson opening up with a fine six and two fours as the runs piled on. It was that man McKenzie again, capturing his third wicket as he induced Wilson to mistime an on-drive. The ball looped into the air short of Mitchell. To Mitchell’s credit he made excellent ground and kept a keen eye on the ball to take and excellent catch just inches from the ground. Stonehaven 151-7.

Grundy was joined at the crease by Findlay. This was one of the partnerships that would not last though. Grundy falling soon after as he became McKenzie’s fourth victim of the day. A short of a length ball forcing Grundy to pop it into the mid-wicket area. Big Dave Forbes showing agility belying a man of his size combined with a sticking hand that Spider Man would be proud of to hang onto the most splendid of catches. Stonehaven 151-8.

Findlay was joined at the crease by young H. Wilson. Sadly young Wilson was unfortunate to be run out. It was Findlay’s drive to Philip which looked certain to be caught. Instead of catching it, the ball thumped into Philips chest and onto the ground. Philip, being aware that the ball was still live was quick enough to redeem himself by gathering the ball and throwing it in quickly. The run out completed by Winstanley. Stonehaven 156-9. Findlay’s fortune had become young Wilson’s misfortune.

Cricket can be a cruel game.

The final pairing of Craig Hinchcliffe and Findlay took the score onto 175 as the Stonehaven innings drew to a close.

For Stonehaven Andy Wilson top scored with 28 whilst Van Gysel finished with 20. The strength of the Stonehaven innings being that no fewer than 8 of their batsmen got to double figures.

Ross McKenzie rightfully took the plaudits for the Portcullis bowling. His 4-40 a fantastic effort by the young Ben Stokes lookalike. Mitch pitched in with 2-42 whilst Shovon finished with 1-25.

After a very pleasant tea in fine surroundings it was time for Portcullis to post their reply.

For Portcullis Dave Forbes and Andy Philip would open the batting. The Stonehaven bowling attack would be led by Callum Findlay and Craig Hinchcliffe.

It was Stonehaven who struck first blood. A seemingly loose Hinchcliffe delivery was pounced upon by Philip. Although he cut the ball firmly and with purpose, he also failed to get on top of it. As a result he steered it straight towards gully where Von Gijssel showed quick reactions to take a fine catch. Portcullis 6-1.

Forbes did not last too long either as he succumbed to Findlay’s probing line and length. Forbes popping one into the air where Gale took a fine catch. Portcullis 12-2.

This sudden change of events brought the pairing of Dave Mitchell and Shovon Mostofa to the crease. The pair started the fightback from there and took the attack to the home side. This burst of aggression surprised the Stonehaven side and they soon saw themselves on the ropes as Portcullis got back into this match.

The pair put on a third wicket partnership of 72 before the pair fell in quick succession.

Mitchell was first to go. He had made a splendid quick-fire 40 which included seven cracking fours. He feel to the deceptive pace of second change bowler Cohen. Cohen got one to rise and follow Mitchell into his midriff. He could only pop it up for Wilson to come in to take a simple catch.

This brought Falconer to the crease. He had little time to exchange pleasantries with Mostofa before Mostofa was next to leave the field of play. Mostofa, in an effort to cut one through point, could only steer it into the enveloping hands of Hinchcliffe who took an excellent catch. Mostofa fell for a solid 27 which included three fine fours.

In quick time 84-2 had become 84-4 and Stonehaven were back in the driving seat.

Joining Falconer at the crease was Jayaraj Raj. The pair seemed to complement each other with their contrasting styles of batting. Falconer’s steady defensive style was meshed with Raj’s all-out attack. If Stonehaven thought they were cruising to victory they better think again!

Raj was certainly up to the challenge. His first six scoring shots had included four fours as Portcullis kept up with the run-rate. Falconer was happy to act as anchor and play around Raj as his innings was beginning to resemble the cavalier style of a certain I.T. Botham at Headingley in 1981.

The pair put on 32 before Falconer fell. He drove at one towards extra cover, mistiming it. As a result Campbell was on hand to take a fine catch. Portcullis 116-5.

Richard Collinson was next. He took the role that Falconer did before him as Raj, with his eye in and fully charged up, continued to take the attack to Stonehaven. The pair added another 24 runs before Collinson fell, bowled Hinchcliffe.

This brought Winstanley to the crease to join Raj. Raj was not to be perturbed though. A drive over mid-on got one four. A looping cut over gully brought another. A pull through mid-wicket. The same result. It seemed it did not matter where or who would bowl to Raj. These bowlers were fair game and they were going to be hit! It was real swashbuckling cricket and, for the neutrals, fantastic to watch. Raj showed he had wonderful hand-eye co-ordination and that made him very dangerous indeed!

This onslaught saw the end of the bowling spells of Hinchcliffe and Findlay, the Stonehaven opening pair. With Stonehaven’s target coming into view for Portcullis, the home side had to come up with a plan b.

They plumped for skipper Devlin to swap the wicketkeeping duties for bowling duties as they sought to curb Raj and his Portcullis cronies.

The plan appeared to initially work. Winstanley sharing a stand of 12 with Raj before he was trapped lbw to the bowling of Devlin. This brought Portcullis’s Messi – Bob Adie – to the crease. He hung around long enough to take the score to 170 with an over to go.

The problem – Raj was at the wrong end. With six to win and three dot balls, Raj and Adie went for a suicide single. Alas the Stonehaven fielders were too sharp on this occasion and Raj was run out.

Raj had gone for a spectacular and Portcullis best 60. His knock had included 11 brutally magnificent fours and had gone so close to changing the course of the match. It was an innings of courage and belief and we, his teammates, were glad to be there to witness it.

This left Ross McKenzie to go to the crease to hit a six to win the match with two balls remaining. It was too much to ask for and young McKenzie, like Raj before him, did not leave the pitch wandering as a full yahoo with the bat was not enough and he was bowled with the last ball of the match.

Portcullis 170-9 in reply. Last season it would have been a draw but this was a defeat due to the scrapping of the draw.

And rightly so.

It had been a fantastic game of cricket and neither side deserved to lose but one had to and sadly it was Portcullis on this occasion.

PORTCULLIS MEN OF THE MATCH.

This goes to a dead-heat between JAYARAJ RAJ and ROSS MCKENZIE.

Jay’s 60 was an absolute superb knock. It put the fear of god into the Stonehaven bowling attack and almost brought an unlikely victory. This was Jay’s highest score for the club and continues to show his metamorphosis from being a potent strike bowler to flourish into a wonderful all-rounder!

Ross McKenzie, on making his League bowling debut and with sound advice from skipper Dave Mitchell, took 4-40. During this match he blossomed into a wonderful bowler. His left arm round pace bowling troubling all of those who face him. He responded well to Mitch’s guidance (not the first Portcullis player to do so) and should he continue to do so will develop into a fine bowler indeed.

STONEHAVEN MAN OF THE MATCH.

This was a tough call as they all chipped in with bat and ball in this match. Craig Hinchcliffe’s 3-46 merits consideration but ANDY WILSON’s knock of 28 in quick time towards the end of the innings takes it.

PORTCULLIS CATCH OF THE MATCH.

A healthy yield of six catches were taken by the Portcullis posse. The best of those was taken by big DAVE FORBES. He takes the award for the second week in a row. The big hairy biker setting the example for the rest of us to follow!

Next up is a tough home match at home to second in the league Siyapa at Duthie Park.

Tuesday, 14 June, 2016