1st XI
The first eleven rounded off their league season with their sixteenth victory, thus winning the Strathmore Union and qualifying for the East of Scotland play-off match against Edinburgh South on Saturday; the big prize for the winners will be a place in the Eastern Premier Division in 2025.

There were a number of encouraging features in our performance against a largely hapless Dundee High School. Kenny Reid had batted with aplomb for most of the season. However, he had struggled of late to recover from injury and the runs had dried up. At Dalnacraig he scored a commanding half-century, including a splendid quota of boundaries off both front and back foot. Lewis Munro was in equally commanding form before he misjudged a front-foot straight drive and was caught superbly on the boundary by Luke Bolt off Bakhtyar Saqiwal’s deceptive, spin bowling.

We were then treated to the debut appearance of thirteen years old, Marcus Vila; this was not Marcus’ day but he will most surely flourish on bigger stages in the future for our club! The other batsman that caught the eye for the second week running was James Robb. If you ignore James’ eagerness to periodically slog across the line, a tactic more likely to fail than succeed, he looks a genuinely organised batsman, capable of sound defence and blessed with a sufficient array of straight shots to build a successful innings. Take your batting seriously, James; you have runs in you!

The final total of 231 always looked likely to be enough and so it proved as the home players batted poorly in reply. It is a measure of the weakness of the High School response that Clark Cameron took 2 wickets for 3 runs.

With the league and cup double achieved at this level this season, we must congratulate David Gamblen and his players on their achievements to date. They are now in the position to achieve our prime ambition for this year: promotion back to the top league. Facing us is Edinburgh South, a club that we have never played before. Our players will most certainly treat them with respect. Nevertheless, this has been a season of winning.

Many of these victories have been straightforward; others have required determination and know-how just to get the job done. We have a very skillful, well-led team of players who have most certainly developed that important, winning habit. We know you will do us proud on Saturday in this key match, commencing at 11;00 A.M. at Falkland.

There are places available on the coach for spectators; please contact Stuart Grant 07747336861.

2nd XI
Our seconds just missed out in a thrilling encounter with Crescent at Mannofield. Rahul Chandu understandably opted to bat on a pitch that looked promising for batsmen. Rizwan Tahir, Arnav Saraswat and Ali Gohar all made useful contributions to the total but this week’s leading scorer was Andrew Hastie. Batting at number nine, Andrew launched several well-struck blows to notch up a very important innings of 68 not out, which saw his side register a total of 237 for 9.

This was probably about par, given the conditions of play.

Crescent’s thrilling chase was based on an excellent innings in middle-order by Ameer Abdullah Khan who reached 79 runs before being clean-bowled by the ever-promising Arnav Saraswat. Arnav went on to return creditable figures of 3 for 27 in 8 overs. Abid Ali also did well, taking 3 for 32, as this match headed towards its exciting climax. To their credit, Crescent just held their nerve and they passed our total with just two balls to spare.

This has been a season filled with many, intriguing matches for our players and I wonder at Rahul’s ability to produce tantalising finishes for his team. Losing is never easy, but several of the seconds’ matches this season have been well worth watching and this is squad that is both talented and happy in their cricket. On Saturday, those who are unable to travel to Falkland will see our lads start as favourites against Banchory on home soil. Weather permitting, expect a run feast in this one!

3rd XI
Our thirds learned an important lesson about playing any Ellon side in the last two decades: you have to get Jonny Barrett out cheaply if at all possible. This they did and thereafter, an understrength Ellon were always going to struggle. On Saturday Scott Middleton did his best to hold the Ellon innings together, scoring 68 runs in a total of 112. Alex Mitchell and Ranga Bandara were our leading bowlers on the day.

Just to dispel any worries about the chase, our openers Joseph Scotting and Muteeb Furdous formed a very productive partnership which saw us draw level with Ellon without loss in the twenty-seventh over. Regrettably, the ten-wicket victory was denied us when Muteeb was bowled by Morne Van Heerden for a fine 58 runs. This left Joseph to see us through with his own undefeated contribution of 46 runs.

Next week our lads travel to Lairds hopeful of another victory against Methlick. This team has matured so well since its inception; it is great to think of them this season as clear favourites going into a number of fixtures.
As always, well done, Phil!

We will of course, all be watching events at Falkland on Saturday, eager to see the club’s first eleven triumph and elevate our place in Scottish cricket. Like every one of you I await expectantly! Whatever the outcome however, I personally feel greatly encouraged by the huge improvements in performances of all our sides this year. The progress we see here is founded on growth at grass-roots level. All around us talented, hard-working youngsters are emerging and are combining successfully with willing, generous seniors to improve all the sides in our great club. This recipe for success is a heady mix that can only see Aberdeenshire become even more successful in the near future.

We need only continue this hard work to reach greater heights very soon!