Banchory 2nd XI 272-5 (40 overs): Redpath 112, Gutimetla 89; Bhatt 4-24

Stoneywood-Dyce 3rd XI 158 all out (38.5 overs): M Lambley 41, A Madigan 36; Davies 3-16, Hart 3-33

After having to scratch their first game against Stonehaven Banchory 2nd XI arrived at People’s Park with 11 keen cricketers. Four debutants, R Jack, A Jack, Shirzad and Iqbal, and three loan players from Portcullis, Gutimetla, John, and Dawson, joined seasoned veterans Brown, Davies, Hart, and Redpath, as the team embarked on their 2025 journey.

Redpath won the toss, and to the dismay of vice-captain Brown, elected to bat. However, Brown’s doubts, based on some solid data from last season (43 all out at Crathie having won the toss…) were soon to be dismissed.

Hart, who despite looking aghast at being told he was opening with Redpath, looked in fine form playing some elegant strokes for his 20. The young, and extremely talented opening bowler Finch (1-13), broke the partnership when Hart wafted a zippy delivery to slip. Gutimetla then joined Redpath at the crease and the pair proceeded to put on 173 in 24 overs for the 2nd wicket, one run short of a Banchory 2nd XI record.

It was a partnership of contrasting styles, Redpath cutting, driving, and prodding the ball along the ground (mostly) while Gutimetla heaved some enormous leg-side boundaries in an innings comprising of six sixes, and eight fours. As the runs flowed, Brown, stoically posted up at Square Leg humming Black Sabbath tunes to himself, felt his initial anger fading as it became clear the visitors would post a defendable total.

Gutimetla was eventually dismissed 11 short of a century, mis-timing one big shot too many, with Bhatt (4-24) claiming the caught and bowled. Bhatt, playing his second ever game, then took the wickets of Banchory debutants Shirzad and Iqbal who both fell for ducks – welcome aboard folks!

John (13*) joined Redpath (112) at the crease and helped the Banchory skipper reach his ton with a few overs to spare. There were then five balls for A Jack (12*), who hadn’t played in 30 years, to face. He proceeded to hit three of the most sweetly timed boundaries of the day to take the score to 272. Credit should be given to the Stoneywood juniors for never letting their heads drop in the field and showing huge potential with their bowling.

Following some tasty teas Banchory took to the field to defend their total. The opening bowling partnership of R Jack-Davies was a contrast of ages! 13-year-old R Jack (1-13), playing his first senior game, took the new ball with great confidence and showed huge amounts of skill in an opening spell of five overs that went for just 10 runs.

At the other end, Davies (3-16), somewhat older in years, bowled with guile and deceptive slowness to claim the first three Stoneywood wickets. First, Thimaiah (0) was trapped LBW. Kesireddy (4) was next to fall playing a drive, then a cut, then a leave, before watching the ball gently clip the top of off stump. Glenn McGrath-esq from young Davies. Finch (0) was the third to fall in a spell of bowling for the ages, caught and bowled.

A Madigan (36) and Bhatt (27) steadied things for the hosts and hit some nicely timed boundaries across the rapid outfield. But a comeback was not on the cards as Hart (3-36) found his radar.

Bhatt was caught at point by the man of the moment Davies, before A Madigan played around a straight one. At the other end Shirzad (0-33) bowled with great passion and should’ve had a wicket, only for his captain to misjudge a spinning over the shoulder catch.

The run chase was now beyond the hosts, but there was still time for some nice moments, which is what Grade 3 is all about. Father-Daughter duo L Lambley (9) and M Lambley enjoyed a spell at the crease together, the former hitting two crisp boundaries, before falling to a swinging Hart delivery.

Brown (2-13) was as accurate as ever and picked up two wickets, including a smart stumping by Dawson to dismiss Davidson (5).
The match ended in a wholesome fashion with Father-Son duo of A Jack and R Jack taking the final two wickets. Young Rueben Jack sealed the victory by dismissing the Stoneywood Captain Lambley (41) who snicked a perfect line and length delivery to keeper Dawson before graciously walking.

This was the real Glen McGrath-esq moment of the match (sorry Ian) and perfectly encapsulated the spirit the game was played in. Next weekend the 2nds are away to Dunecht.