On what turned into a sun-drenched Saturday at Burnett Park, Banchory 1st XI hosted league champions Cults in a match that had everything: wickets, hundreds, reverse scoops, and a complete betrayal of Thursday night’s catching practice.

Cults, having already secured promotion to Grade 1, won the toss and opted to bat first—perhaps hoping to post a mountainous total on Banchory’s famously batter-friendly wicket. What followed was less a mountain and more a modest hillock, as they were bundled out for 203.

The star of the show with the ball was Daniel Brown, who bowled like a man possessed—or at least like a man who was worried about losing out to Clive Matthews for the bowling prize—claiming his best figures of the season with 3 wickets. Not to be outdone, Ben Hart also turned in a season-best performance, matching Brown’s tally with 3 scalps of his own. Between them, Brown saw to the top order, and Hart cleaned up the tail.

But the real magic came from Shirzad, who seemed to have magnetic hands, pouching four catches with the kind of nonchalance that made Thursday’s catching drills look like a cruel prank. Ironically, not a single participant from that session managed to hold onto a catch during the match—raising suspicions that the practice doesn’t make perfect.

Two wickets for Vikas Adyanthaya and a calamitous run out were the remaining wickets to fall.

Cults’ innings was held together by Saqib Ali, the only batter to pass 50, while their skipper Aqeel Ajazi fell heartbreakingly on 49—caught, of course, by Shirzad off the bowling of Hart. The final total of 203 felt undercooked on such a pristine wicket.

In reply, Banchory’s innings got off to a wobbly start as Sam Rotheram was back in the pavilion before the innings had time to stretch its legs.

With the score on 12, enter Gus Simon and John Ambrose, who calmly turned the chase into a masterclass. Gus, in the form of his life, notched up his third century in four games, eventually falling for a majestic 104 with the scores almost level—perhaps just to make his average for the season look believable.

The winning runs came courtesy of Dean Abbott, who decided that conventional cricket shots were far too mainstream. His brief but unforgettable cameo featured a flurry of reverse scoops that left the fielders bewildered and the scorers laughing. Banchory cruised home by 8 wickets with 6 overs to spare, Ambrose finishing unbeaten on a classy 67.

While Cults may be heading to Grade 1, Banchory can take pride in having done the double over their local rivals this season. And with Gus Simon now leading the grade in runs scored with a jaw-dropping average of 108.8, there’s plenty to celebrate at Burnett Park.

Next weekend should see Banchory hosting 3rd Aberdeen Grammar for the final league game of the season, but they have only managed to play 7 of their games this season and the weather forecast has taken a turn from the glorious summer so far. If this was the last league game of the season it was a good one to finish on, but we pray to the cricketing gods for one more chance in the middle.