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Ellon defeat in form Grammar
By Huw Owen
Ellon’s 2nd XI Cricket Team travelled to Rubislaw to compete with 3rd place Grammer, a team they have faired well against in recent seasons.
Stengthened by late call up Scott Munro, better known to the local rugby followers as ‘Moogs’, Ellon were able to field a full side. Scott proved invaluable in the field with his agility and accuracy in throwing down the stumps, aswell as proving to be a capable opening batsman.
Having won the toss and electing to bowl first, Ellon got off to a cracking start. Huw Owen trapped the opening batsman LBW with his fifth delivery, Kenny Hutcheson bowled the dangerous Australian, Ballinger with his eighth delivery and then Owen bowled the other opener during his third over: 3 for 11.
Grammers next two batsmen changed the course of the game immediately – free flowing boundaries for 6 overs took the score to 81 before Owen dismissed G Morrison LBW with a full swinging delivery. The next batsman looked equally assured at the crease but Greg Rees suckered him into a loose shot to point that Hutcheson held onto with ease. Another Australian came into bat next and he managed to score a quick dozen before falling victim to Owens third LBW of the day.
At 6 for 149 off 21 overs, Ellon still had their work cut out to ensure they restricted Grammer to a total they could chase, but with W Ali still at the crease, the potential for 200+ was realistic. Fortunately for Ellon, the robust Greg Rees trapped Ali LBW, which signalled the end for the Aberdeen team. Rees took 2 more wickets to finish with 4 for 36, whilst Owen took the final wicket in the 29th over to end with 5 for 70.
Chasing a total of 173 to win, Ian Campbell and Scott Munro opened the batting for Ellon. Scott creamed his first delivery to the boundary and followed it with another superb square cut for 4. In fairness, Grammer’s bowlers did improve, restricting Ellon to a total of 28 after 10 overs and getting Munro out caught and bowled.
Kenny Hutcheson joined Cambell at the crease and together they pushed the score along at the required run rate of 3 per over until Cambell was unfortunately bowled for 26, the score now on 2 for 80. Owen was next in line and he and Hutcheson managed to stay together for 10 overs, adding 35 to the total before Owen was bowled by his opposing captain Jim Bramald for 14 runs.
Hutcheson remained resolute throughout,
punishing any loose deliveries and ‘keepin’ his heid’ with the better ones.
Along with Ean Mackie, he added 22 for the next wicket to bring the total
to 4 for 140 off 44 overs – Mackie was the next victim, caught at gully
off Bramald. Greg Rees took over from Mackie and had an immediate
impact, with a well struck shot to the boundary, but he wasn’t able to
resist the tempting short pitched efforts of Hogben, and he holed out for
5 runs, although the score was now on 152: 21 to win.
Whilst Hutcheson remained, Ellon’s hopes
were high, but as so often happens in these situations, the tiring batsman
looses out, and Hogben managed to tempt Hutcheson into playing a shot which
he soon regretted – bowled for a fantastic 50 runs.
Having dismissed Grammer in 28.1 overs, Ellon had 61 overs in which to amass their 173 to win. Gordon Smith and Ali Mustoe were charged with the responsibility of trying to win the match. Ali blasted an off drive for 4, Smith walloped 2 short deliveries over point for 4 and between them in 6 overs they took the total to 170. Mustoe was looking to score the winning runs, when he was bowled. The fall of Mustoe Senior brought Mustoe Junior (aka Charlie) to the crease, with the express instruction to block everything and allow his senior partner Smith to take on the bowling – first ball – slapped over mid-off – 1 run. Grammer’s bowlers contrived to present Ellon with the 2 runs required for victory, but this did not prevent the Ellon team celebrating the victory.
This was a hard fought and well deserved
result which has put Ellon 2nd in a good position to battle with Stonehaven
for the second place in the league which will guarantee Grade 3 cricket
next season.