Buckie Too Strong For Plucky Nairn

On Saturday, Nairn County were the visitors to the LGP for the Macallan league match sponsored by Louis Fish and Chips. A lot of new faces in the visiting team perhaps spelled danger for Buckie renowned for slipping on early season banana skins.

Confident from their previous week’s 188 run tally, Nairn elected to bat on winning the toss and young Mark Tait took to the field for Buckie as Wilson was a late arrival from work. During his time on the field Mark showed good hands and arm and was very close with a run out attempt, in fact he was sure it was out!! Well done.

McDonald and Shakeel got use of the new ball and the former got a breakthrough in the third over with what turned out to be the best ball of the day that cut back from outside off stump to bowl Cuffley who padded up thinking it was safely missing the woodwork.

The score moved to 26 before McDonald struck again when M Annis tried to guide one round his legs but caught a top edge and looped the ball over his head and onto his stumps. Still goes down as bowled in the book for the bowler.

Kerr earlier had a lucky escape when McDonald clipped the stumps but did dislodge the bail. His second calling on the ash was more forceful, just, and the bail fell to earth to dismiss the batsman.

After a productive spell Nairn pushed the score to 45 before Shakeel struck with a timely brace bowling Crowson with a standard delivery and then Stewart with his trademark slow delivery to leave them at 50 for 5.

Hair and Gibson put anchors down and enjoyed a partnership of 12 overs, the longest of the innings adding 21 runs in the process before Corsie took the ball and spoiled the union by bowling Hair.

Todd and Buckle were Baker’s ducks both bowled allowing Gibson and Clinch to add 26 runs and take the score towards respectability and 99. Having returned from the east, Elmer was called to action and rabbits stood motionless as balls whizzed about them. Gibson fell first trapped LBW and whilst Clinch and S Annis went beyond 100, Clinch was beaten for pace and returned a simple caught and bowled.

Of Nairn’s 114 runs from 41 overs, Gibson scored 28 and Clinch 22. McDonald took 3 wickets for Buckie with Shakeel, Baker and Wilson adding their support with two each whilst Corsie took the remaining one.

After the Barclay Tea Interval, Eadie Walls and Findlay started the chase and added 30 before S Annis had Walls caught and bowled from a shortish delivery that the batsman gently played back.

Findlay and Daniel Walls kept the momentum going, but with the score on 53 Findlay went to drive and edged Annis high into a thankful first slip’s hands.

Lindsay got his first league outing with the bat and was settling in nicely when he sliced a Gibson delivery into the hands of backward point with the score on 62. Wilson and D Walls moved up a gear and in 8 overs added 40 runs to take Buckie within sight of victory. Crowson struck back and claimed Wilson’s scalp after hitting the batsmen in line on the full for an LBW dismissal.

Corsie joined Walls and within 3 more overs the game was won. Walls remained undefeated on 31 and Corsie on 9. Wilson’s contribution was 29 runs and Findlay’s 28.

S Annis bowled well and took two wickets for the visitors.

Quickly onto coaching now and on Tuesday 9 May (tonight) the outdoor sessions start at the LGP for youngsters. Primary pupils should attend the LGP at 6.00pm and Secondary pupils at 7.15pm. Buckie CC have 4 qualified coaches to provide instruction and this year will see an U13 side competing in the Aberdeenshire league. Interested parents are encouraged to come along (2 nd XI places are still available!). Full details of this and all Club matters can be found on the web at www.buckiecc.co.uk

Thanks to Louis Fish and Chips for sponsoring the Nairn match. Next weekend a double header is in store with Buckie away to the high scoring Lossie on Saturday and at home to Elgin in the KO Cup on Sunday. These matches will be sponsored by Frank McLeod MBE, and Birnie Sutherland respectively. See you there.