Buckie Grasp Corsie Lifeline

Buckie sponsored by Club President, Edward O Corsie MBE travelled to Castle Park Fochabers to take on the Speyside team in the first round of the Readers Scottish Small Clubs Cup. Buckie lost the toss and faced batting on the artificial wicket after the weekend rain left the rest of the square damp.

Despite scoring 10 from the first over the Buckie innings fell apart early as Findlay, Walls and Wilson all went cheaply with the score still under 20. Hepburn departed soon after leaving all hopes on skipper Corsie. A situation he has not become unused to playing with Buckie.

Terry Curran hung around for a while; long enough to see the score double to 65 and whilst Baker was at the crease Corsie scored 20 to take the score to 82 for 6. Shakeel shared a 25 runs partnership with the skipper and the sore reached 107 before he left the field. Thomson, Plant and young Steven Cox were out as quickly and the innings closed at 114 All Out. Corsie was unbeaten on 59 after some careful batting, picking his ball and space to get runs. A lesson we could all have used on the day. His best scoring partner during the innings was Extras with 23.

The Fochabers bowlers will not get an easier afternoon and Gibb took 3 wickets with Bijl and M Stockwell taking two each. A Stockwell, Carney and M Fox each took one also.

Buckie struck early in he defence of their meagre tally as Thomson removed Carney in his first over thanks to a catch off his own bowling. M Stockwell was batting sensibly, but was beaten by a Shakeel slower ball and returned a simple catch to the bowler and the score was 25 for 2.

With the score on 32 Corsie bowled B Fox with one that nipped back and A Stockwell was run out needlessly before he did any damage. A terrific pick up and return from Steven Cox was responsible for this dismissal.

Sanders and Carney held things together and started to put together a partnership that may have taken Fochabers home, but Sanders top edged a cross bat shot and was caught by the wicket keeper, but not behind.

M Fox cut Thomson into the hands of Wilson at point and four balls later Gibb put Thomson’s delivery into Hepburn’s hands at extra cover and Fochabers. Carney was beaten by the fng of Thomson and found his middle stump knocked back. Bijl battled bravely to pull his team through, but, again, a needless run saw him well short coming back for two. Wilson on the return on this occasion.

Wilson wrapped things by bowling Priddle and the Fochabers reply closed at 81 runs.

Colin Thomson was top bowler on the day taking 4 wickets. All the others had 1 each.

An unexpected victory after a poor batting performance by ten men of Buckie. Thank goodness for Corsie. Well done the bowlers.

Thanks to Eddie Corsie MBE for sponsoring this match. Check the website www.buckiecc.co.uk to see who we play in Round 2.