In a high-scoring encounter at Rubislaw, Bon Accord outclassed by 56 runs leaving Grammar rooted in the relegation places. The match was defined by a dominant batting display from Bon Accord’s top order, a flurry of dropped chances by Grammar, and a spirited partnership between Geoff Morrison and Salman Bedaar that salvaged valuable consolation points for the visitors.
Bon Accord’s innings was a masterclass in top-order dominance. Openers Fazal Awan and Pal Dhami stitched together a mammoth 196-run partnership, punishing Grammar’s bowlers and capitalizing on multiple dropped catches that could have turned the tide early.
Awan’s innings of 113 off 89 balls was a blend of power and placement, featuring 17 boundaries and a lone six. Dhami complemented him perfectly with a composed 118 off 105 balls, striking 14 fours and rotating the strike efficiently.
Grammar’s fielding woes began early, with at least four dropped catches in the first 20 overs—two of which gave Awan reprieves that proved costly. The missed opportunities allowed Bon Accord to build momentum and post a daunting total.
Late cameos from Aziz (24 off 13) and Chattha (17 off 12) added gloss to the innings, pushing the total past 300.
Bon Accord Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F Awan | c S Bin Khalid b R Bashir | 113 | 89 | 17 | 1 | 126.97 |
| P Dhami | c AM Haider b M Hassaan | 118 | 105 | 14 | 0 | 112.38 |
| N Mirza | c H Javaid b AM Haider | 9 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 52.94 |
| A Chattha | c S Bin Khalid b M Hassaan | 17 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 141.67 |
| M Ayaz† | c MM Tanvir b R Bashir | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 120.00 |
| S Ahmed | not out | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| J Aziz | not out | 24 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 184.62 |
| Extras | 14 | |||||
| Total | 305 |
Aberdeen Grammar Bowling
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | NB | WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H Mapplebeck | 1 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| M Hassaan | 7 | 0 | 56 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| MM Tanvir | 4 | 0 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| S Bedaar | 8 | 0 | 46 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| AM Haider | 8 | 0 | 55 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| H Javaid | 5 | 0 | 52 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| R Bashir | 7 | 0 | 40 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Chasing 306 was always going to be a tall order, and Grammar’s top order crumbled under pressure. Early wickets fell in quick succession, with Bashir, Bin Khalid, and Haider all dismissed within the first 10 overs.
Bon Accord’s bowlers, led by Mirza (3/36) and Awan (2/49), kept the pressure on. However, Grammar found hope in a resilient partnership between Geoff Morrison and Salman Bedaar, who added 82 runs together, stabilising the innings and ensuring Grammar didn’t go down without a fight.
Bedaar’s unbeaten 82 off 70 balls was a standout performance, marked by 10 fours and a six, while Morrison contributed a gritty 32 off 41. Their partnership not only added respectability to the score but also secured consolation points for Grammar in the league standings.
Late fireworks from Hassaan (38 off 21) added flair, but the target remained out of reach.
Grammar Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S Bin Khalid | c M Ayaz b N Mirza | 23 | 24 | 4 | 0 | 95.83 |
| R Bashir | b T Malik | 7 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 70.00 |
| AM Haider* | c P Dhami b N Mirza | 7 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 63.64 |
| R Swiergon | c M Ayaz b N Mirza | 13 | 27 | 2 | 0 | 48.15 |
| H Mapplebeck | b T Malik | 5 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 71.43 |
| S Bedaar | not out | 82 | 70 | 10 | 1 | 117.14 |
| G Morrison† | c & b F Awan | 32 | 41 | 4 | 0 | 78.05 |
| A Keith | b F Awan | 21 | 29 | 4 | 0 | 72.41 |
| M Hassaan | not out | 38 | 21 | 4 | 1 | 180.95 |
| H Javaid | DNB | |||||
| MM Tanvir | DNB | |||||
| Extras | 21 | |||||
| Total | 249 |
Bon Accord Bowling
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | NB | WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T Malik | 8 | 0 | 38 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| N Mirza | 8 | 0 | 36 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| S Ahmed | 4 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| A Chattha | 4 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| J Aziz | 8 | 0 | 43 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| F Awan | 8 | 1 | 49 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
Grammar’s fielding was their undoing. At least five dropped chances, including two off Awan and one off Dhami, allowed Bon Accord to build a platform that proved insurmountable. The 196-run partnership between Awan and Dhami was the backbone of Bon Accord’s innings and set the tone for the match. Grammar then lost early wickets meaning they had no chance with the chase.
Bon Accord’s clinical performance with the bat and ball earned them a well-deserved win, but Grammar will rue their missed chances in the field. Despite the loss, the partnership between Morrison and Bedaar was a silver lining, helping Grammar secure consolation points but ultimately not enough to keep them clear of relegation. They go into the final day at Gordonians knowing onl;y a win will keep them in Grade 1.
