Banchory 2nd XI 135 all out (26 overs): Burnett (70*); Barrett 2-21
QC Ellon Gordon 137-3 (25.1 overs): Veldsman 68; Gopinathan 1-17

QC Ellon Gordon won by 7 wickets

Calamitous batting collapses are always on the cards in Grade 3 and Banchory 2nd XI certainly served one up against 9-man Ellon side. The first 6 batters scores were as follows; 1, 3, 2, 7, 1, and 0. Feverish memories of the 43 all out against Crathie at an ice-blasted Balmoral were being jigged with Banchory crumbling at 18-5 and 33-6.

However, 16-year old Tommy Burnett played his best innings in a Banchory shirt to give the score some respectability. A tremendous 70 not out came from just 47 balls and included eight 4’s and four beautifully timed 6’s, a huge bash over two fielders at cow-corner to bring up his fifty was particularly satisfying. Burnett was supported by Matthews (8), Vas (13), and Brown (4) as the tail wagged ferociously to entertainingly add 102 to the score.

The tenth wicket stand of 43 between Burnett and Brown broke an earlier all-time 2nd XI record of 40 set by Matthews and Brown against 3rd Gordonians this season. Matthews was busy basking in the glory of not being out caught, like 6 of his comrades, against a team with nine players (for one unfortunate match report author, against a team of eight) and failed to realise his name was being erased from the Honours Board.

Thanks to Burnett, Banchory had a total to defend, however it was not to be due to some confident batting from Ellon openers Davies (36*) and Veldsman (68). But as always with this team heads never dropped. Dom Cruise, sharp as ever at point, took an excellent catch from Gopinathan’s accurate darts to dismiss the impressive Veldsman.

Once Veldsman was dismissed the final 26 needed for victory took 10 overs for the hosts to knock-off, as Banchory were left rueing the lack of runs they had to defend. Matthews, oblivious to the Honours Board shenanigans, bowled a superb 8-over spell and deservedly took the wicket of Barrett (0) - who finely nicked a textbook away swinger and politely walked off.

There was also time for Brown to pick up his 14th wicket of the season. Ovenstone (2) mowed a half-tracker to Abbott at mid-on who clung on despite appearing to have mentally checked himself out of the match and into the Banchory show beer tent.

Onwards to Lairds and 2nd Methlick next weekend.