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The much anticipated Grade 4 game was in
the balance right up to Saturday morning, due to the awful weather on Friday
night - thankfully the rain stopped just in time.
Knowing that Methlick would be the sternest
test of the season, Ellon were confident that their line-up for the day
would earn them a few points, if not a win.
Colin Addison, the Methlick skipper won the toss and elected to field, on a drying wicket – groundsman Andy Parks was sure the wicket would play true, with variable bounce as a result of his newly adopted “pitch preparation”.
Huw Owen and Ean Mackie opened the batting, and found the attack of Addison and Douge Duguid to be somewhat quicker and far more accurate than usual in Grade 4, but appeared to be coping all the same. Into the sixth over, Mackie steered into mid-wicket, to the left of Addison, and called for the run – Owen wasn’t quick enough to beat Addison’s throw, and that was Methlick’s first wicket with the score on 8.
Ken Montgomery looked steady and comfortable for seven overs, until he was tempted into a pull shot which he couldn’t manage to keep down – out caught, off the bowling of Duguid. Next in line was Ian Robertson, a batsman well capable of knocking up a half century in no time at all. After a couple of singles, Duffy fired in another short pitched delivery that rose above the towering Robertson’s left shoulder – duly dispatched over and above square leg for a fantastic six – game on?
Mackie hadn’t looked quite so confident against the vastly improved Duffy, and he was bowled for 11 in the 19th over with the total on 32.
Robertson fought on until the 35th over for a stubborn 18 runs, but none of the Ellon batsmen felt much like keeping him company – playing wild, swinging shots against this attack was never going to work, the accuracy and guile of Methlick’s bowlers must be treated with respect.
Teenagers Craig White and Alistair Mustoe batted out the innings, showing great courage in the face of adversity – this experience will prove invaluable to both in coming weeks.
Ellon finished the innings on 64 with the loss of 9 wickets.
Tea was provided by the Station Hotel, and lovely it was too.
Methlick opened their innings with Mark Woodhouse and Ian Kennedy, facing the attack of Kenny Hutcheson and Ian Duncan. The first 5 overs went well for Ellon – only 5 runs scored. However, Woodhouse then decided to take on the bowlers – 20 runs off the next two overs, and suddenly Methlick were over a third of the way to victory.
Ken Montgomery and Huw Owen took over the
Ellon attack, hoping that a change might bring the much needed break through
– 8 runs came off the next 8 overs, but no wicket had fallen.
Woodhouse opened the 18th over, obviously
feeling the shackles had been on too long, completely mis-read a Montgomery
peach, and was clean bowled, for a respectable 24.
Only one more run was added before star fielder, Hutcheson caught Kennedy well short of his ground with a direct hit from mid-wicket – could Ellon turn this game on its head? Reports of Methlick’s recent batting collapse were suddenly being mentioned out on the square.
Fletcher fell LBW to another fine delivery from Montgomery in the next over, and now Methlick were 39 for 3 – and out came Mr Addison, to join another ex-Ellon player, Alec Campbell.
Both played cautiously for a few deliveries,
but Addison was quick to latch onto anything short, and he struck 10 runs
off Owen’s 7th over, leaving a further 10 runs to win – the target of 65
was realised in the 25th over, with the loss of 3 wickets.
Methlick retain their 100% record, whilst
Ellon slip to 4th place in the Grade with 57%.
Any thoughts that this fixture would ever be anything other than fairly contested, either on or off the park were not held by those involved in the match – the close proximity of the two clubs will hopefully encourage even more locals to join either club, thereby ensuring the continuance of cricket in the Gordon area.
Ellon travel to Dunecht on the 24th of May, to compete in the Johnstone Cup.
By Huw Owen