Stonehaven Gain Sweet Revenge for Semi Final Shock.

Week 13 of the 2016 Grades season saw Portcullis entertain Stonehaven at their home venue of Duthie Park.

The two teams had faced each other twice already this season. The first match had saw Stonehaven post an impressive 175-9. In reply Portcullis looked out of it at 86-4 after 26 overs. That was until Jayaraj Raj decided - in a cricketing “Stars in Their Eyes” - scenario said:

“Tonight Matthew, with the bat, I’m going to be Kapil Dev!!”

That he was as he set about the far from shoddy Stonehaven bowling like a man possessed! In his fifth wicket partnership of 30 with Ronnie Falconer, Ronnie scored two of those runs. In his sixth wicket partnership of 18 with Richard Collinson, Richard only scored one.

Portcullis got to 170 before he got run out trying to get to the danger end in order to win the match. Gone for a defiant and spectacular 60!

The second fixture of the two – the Reid Cup Semi Final – saw Skipper Dave Mitchell post career best figures of 7-18 as Stonehaven were surprisingly bowled out for 51. Mitch was simply unplayable that day with the ball and there was no shame in that.

With that result in mind, it was a different Stonehaven mind-set that took the field.

Mitch won the first tussle though – the tossing of the coin – and Portcullis opted to field.

Mitch opened the bowling with himself and Shovon Mostofa. For Stonehaven it would be Ross Devlin and Andy Hinchcliffe who would open the batting.

Any thoughts of Portcullis achieving the same result as their previous meeting were soon forgotten as Stonehaven got off to a flier. Playing it tight against Mitchell, the initial waywardness of McKenzie was punished as his first two overs went for 19. McKenzie was relieved of his duties after that by Shovon Mostofa.

Sadly Mostofa fared little better, Stonehaven skelping the loose Mostofa also for 19 although taking three overs to complete that task as he too was given an early rest.

With the seamers struggling, the spin option of Chris Poolman was brought on to replace the out of sorts Mostofa.

The Stonehaven pair of Hinchcliffe and Devlin soon made their fifty partnership in the 10th over. Their confidence growing enough to attack the accuracy of Mitchell as well. With Mitchell luckless and starting to be punished, he too took himself out of the attack and brought Gary Steward onto bowl.

This brought about the first wicket.

Gary, seeing the onslaught that was going on around him, thankfully kept his end tight. With the Stonehaven momentum on a high and with that their adrenalin also flying, Hinchcliffe missed a straight one and was bowled. He was gone for a splendid 23 that included two fours and a massive six over mid on from McKenzie’s first over. Stonehaven 70-1.

Andrew Gale was the next man at the crease. He was perhaps a little unlucky to come on at this stage. By the time he got to the wicket, spinner Poolman had got settled into a nice groove. As a result Poolman, with a beautiful flighted delivery, deceived the raw Gale and he was bowled. Stonehaven 71-2.

In the meantime Devlin, in contrast to Gale, was looking extremely comfortable at the crease. He had quickly got to 39 without giving even a sniff of a chance to Portcullis and whilst he was there, there was no doubt that Stonehaven were going to post a daunting total.

Portcullis therefore were glad to see him get run out the very next ball. The new batsman J Matthews had a case of the old “Yes...No...Sorry!” with Devlin. The result being that Devlin was left stranded as he was run out by Jake Dawson.

It was a shame for Devlin as he not only looked on for a fifty but was short odds to get three figures. He was obviously gutted as he made his way to the trees. His knock of 39 included six serene boundaries.

From 70-0 Stonehaven were now 71-3. Although still in good shape, their batting was not looking as daunting as it had been.

The experienced Dave Long Snr joined J. Matthews at the crease and the pair began to build again. They enjoyed 4th wicket partnership of 25.

In the meantime with the main looters of Devlin and Hinchcliffe now having departed the field of play, Mitch brought Ross McKenzie back on.

McKenzie repaid his Captain’s faith as he settled into a fine groove, bowling Matthews with the sixth ball of his second spell. Stonehaven 96 – 4. J Matthews gone for a dashing 18 which include three fine fours.

It was the turn of E. Matthews to join Long Snr at the crease.

It was that man again McKenzie who got the next wicket as well. It was the turn of the dogged Dave Long Snr to depart next. McKenzie inducing the Stonehaven stalwart into playing a false shot, skipper Dave Mitchell on hand to take a fine catch at mid-on. Stonehaven 107-5.

It was the turn of Stonehaven veteran Andy Wilson to join Matthews at the crease but this would not be for long.

At the other end Shovon Mostofa may have taken heart from his young colleague’s upturn in fortunes. Mostofa too decided to get in the act bowling E. Matthews for 8. Stonehaven 107-6.

McKenzie was not to be outdone however. With his tail up having taken two quick wickets at the beginning of his second spell, McKenzie took wickets three and four in his very next over.

First up was M. Kitching as he was bowled by a corking delivery from the Stokesie doppelganger. The very next ball A. Protherue fell by the same method as McKenzie was at this stage irresistible with the cherry. Stonehaven now 110-8.

With one seasoned campaigner at the crease, it was the turn of another one, Craig Hinchcliffe, to join him. The pair batted well, putting on a fine partnership of 18 for the ninth wicket.

It took the turn of a Portcullis seasoned campaigner, skipper Dave Mitchell, to come back into the attack to finally finish off the innings.

First up he dismissed Hinchcliffe bowling him for a plucky 7. Stonehaven 128-9. Three runs later the innings was closed as he managed to bowl Andy Wilson for a fine 16 as Stonehaven closed their innings on 131 all out.

After tea it was the turn of Portcullis to post their reply.

First blood went to Stonehaven, when with his second ball, Craig Hinchcliffe, bowling left arm round, got one to seam back in. This beat Philip all ends up and he was duly bowled. Portcullis 0-1.

Dave Mitchell joined Gary Steward at the crease. The pair did well to battle away against the fine bowling of Hinchcliffe and his bowling partner Calum Findlay. The score moved onto 22 before Findlay grabbed a well deserved wicket of his own, bowling Steward with a fine delivery. Portcullis 22-2.

Shovon Mostofa was next man in. His partnership with Mitchell did not last long though as Mitchell was bowled by Hinchcliffe with a cracking in-swinger that did for the Portcullis skipper. Portcullis 22-3.

If Portcullis were to breathe a sigh of relief at finally seeing the opening pairing of Hinchcliffe and Findlay being rested, that relief was soon short lived.

First change bowler E. Matthews, perhaps still seeking forgiveness for his involvement in the run out of his skipper, decided to fill his boots straight away, bowling Mostofa for 3. Portcullis 25-4.

Matthews was not finished there though. Three balls later Kannan Vijayakrishnan was sent back to the trees he too bowled by the gallant Matthews. 26-5.

Next man to go was Jayaraj Raj. Hee too was bowled by the golden arm of Matthews. Stonehaven, probably prizing his wicket the most, following that dashing 60 at Mineralwall Park. Portcullis 27-6.

With that middle order collapse that was about it for Portcullis. Richard Collinson with a plucky 18 tidied up the Portcullis innings. Regular wickets fell at the other end though. Simon Winstanley being run out. Jake Dawson being bowled by returning opener Findlay and finally Collinson himself faltering to a rum caught and bowled by Andy Wilson. Chris Poolman being last man out leaving Ross McKenzie as the not out batsman without scoring. Portcullis 64 all out.

For Stonehaven it was a fine well deserved victory and some compensation for the Cup loss weeks earlier. They would go on to finish fourth in the league which was surprising. The pairing of Hinchcliffe and Findlay are as good as a opening bowling attack in the Grades and it is easy to see why they have taken clutches of wickets in Grade One. Skipper Ross Devlin and Andy Hinchcliffe both showed themselves to be high class batsmen to boot. The remainder of their squad possess fine players such as Long Snr, Wilson and Matthews to name a few. If availability is kind to them next season they should have a good chance of winning the League even with Aberdeen Superkings and Grampian 2nds coming up and AGSFP 2nds and Crathie coming down.

It was a somewhat disappointing performance overall for Portcullis. Not to lose this match but by not putting up a better fight for it.

Till next time.

PORTCULLIS MAN OF THE MATCH.

Both Dave Mitchell and Richard Collinson deserve mentions for their efforts but ROSS MCKENZIE takes it for his 4-32. He fought back from his first two overs going for 19. His next nine overs yielding 4-13.

PORTCULLIS CATCH OF THE MATCH.

DAVE MITCHELL takes it as he was the only Portcullis player to take a catch! The other nine Stonehaven wickets were eight bowled and a run out!

STONEHAVEN MAN OF THE MATCH.

ROSS DEVLIN takes the honours for his fine knock of 39 on a troublesome pitch. His opening partnership of 70 with Craig Hinchcliffe on a troublesome wicket won the match for Stonehaven. E. Matthews deserves a mention for his 4-9 and knock of 18 but he did carry some responsibility for the run-out of his skipper.

Tuesday, 11 October, 2016