Category Archives: 2nd XI Match Reports

2s finished their season with a 99 run loss but crucially picked up 16 points to boost their survival hopes. It at least means Methlick has to win their remaining game to relegate FPs, a big change from a few weeks ago when 2s had looked dead and buried. FPs were indebted to loan youngster Alawattage who fell 13 short of a century as 2s made 167 all out in reply to Mannofield’s 266 for 7.

It took some goodwill to get the game on with Mannofield making youngsters available for loan and FPs are grateful for this and the sensible approach to get people cricket. Bowling wise Hasnain Javaid was the top bowler taking 4 for 47 from his 9 overs. For Mannofield Shy Nanthakumaran fell 7 short of a ton while  Saraswat made 67 not out.

While he may be best known for his rousing books on Medieval Scotland 1100-1560 and Border Bloodshed – Scotland and England at War 1369-1403, Aly MacDonald is also a respected authority on batting and bowling. He showed his class on Saturday at Fraserburgh with an unbeaten 64 as 2s chased down 146 with 5 wickets to spare. He got excellent support from Leston D’Costa with another half-century. It helped FPs recover after they had lost Youles 1st ball and Macklin for just 1.

It followed up a good bowling effort where the skipper for the day Agha Haider bagged 4 for 21 and fit again Ranald Wilkie nipped in with 3 for 17 despite playing as just a batsman in the game. Aman Sood also claimed 2 in an excellent all-round bowling effort.

It keeps 2s chances alive of staying up going into their final game. As an added bonus, if you move quickly you may still be able to pick up one of Dr MacDonald’s books which are reputed to be an even better read than this website.

2s hopes of staying in Grade 2 suffered a blow as they slipped to a 7 wicket defeat against Portcullis. At one stage FPs looked well placed as the slow bowling trio of Haider, Javaid and D’Costa kept Portcullis well in check in their hunt for 159. However, an unbroken stand of 115 for the 4th wicket between Philip (73no) and Vijayakrishnan (51) saw the visitors home. FPs had been indebted to an unbeaten 65 from Leston D’Costa in their 158 all out with only Pete Macklin (26) offering tangible support. FPs still have games against Fraserburgh and Mannofield to come in an effort to preserve their Grade 2 status.

Mike Nattrass contributed with bat and ball

2s picked up their 1st win of the season in a closely contested game at Methlick. Having been bowled out for 121 in 37.4 overs on a challenging pitch, FPs managed to defend the total restricting Methlick to 116 for 8. A fine 37 not out from Tom Murray and 30 from opener Mike Nattrass were the mainstays of FPs score, extras also making a more than useful 25.

FPs then picked up wickets regularly reducing Methlick to 88 for 8, Aman Sood claiming a magnificent 5 for 14 in his 9 overs, Agha Haider took 2 for 31 in 9 overs and Mike Nattrass bowled a miserly spell of 1 for 18 in 7 overs including 3 maidens. Bremaneson and Davis combined to add an unbeaten 28 for the 9th wicket for Methlick but they ran out of time as 2s claimed the win. While it is a tough ask, 2s still have an outside chance of escaping relegation and that has to be the aim in the remaining games.

2s were defeated by 8 wickets by Ellon on Saturday making just 85 all out which was never likely to be a challenge for the visitors at Rubislaw. Only Agha Haider (20) and brother-in-law Hasnain Javaid (19) offered any resistance as wickets fell regularly. Aman Sood removed Addy for a duck but Jonny Barrett (40no) and Rich Greenfield (39) put on 76 to take Ellon within 12 of victory when Harrower bowled skipper Greenfield. Barrett added the remaining runs as Ellon chased the target in just 12.3 overs.