Winning Start For Buckie

The 2006 Macallan Championship opened with Buckie, sponsored by James Jappy, Painter playing hosts to Ross County at the LGP on Saturday. Despite unfavourable weather in the lead up to April, Bill Flett had made a fine job of getting a firm wicket together for the game.

On winning the toss, home skipper Corsie asked the visitors to bat and opening bowlers Wilson and McDonald kept the runs to minimum with tidy opening spells. A change of Wilson for Shakeel saw an immediate breakthrough when Crabtree lofted a drive into the wind. Corsie at mid-off chased after the ball which dropped over his shoulder into his ever safe hands. 20 for 1.

With overs passing at no cost, County took chances and an edge through the slips saw a chance of two runs, however, Skipsey was short to Wilson’s accurate return and with a hop and a jump made his way back to the pavilion.

Smart followed soon after being drawn forward to Baker’s inswingers one of which caught the inside edge and deflected onto the stumps to leave County at 43 for 3. Temple became Baker’s next victim when skied into Wilson’s hands at backward point. Baker rounded off his haul by bowling the swashbuckling Bryden with score now on 54.

Change bowlers were given a chance to loosen their arms and Boyd took advantage to boost the score for his team. Eadie Walls turned down the chance of an easy catch opting for the run out which carried a higher degree of difficulty but ultimately had the same result as T Hardwick made his way back to the pavilion. His father met the same fate a few overs later.

Wilson the rabbit hunter returned for the closing overs and bagged his obligatory reward trapping Rae as plumb as it gets. Boyd and Wilson saw out the last few balls to close the County innings at 93 All Out. Boyd scored 25 runs. A late flurry of wides saw extras tally 24.

The Buckie bowling when it was on the stumps was accurate and McDonald was very frugal in his opening spell without getting any reward. Baker moved the ball considerably through the air and his 3 for 13 was the pick of the bunch. Shakeel and Wilson claimed one each.

Saturday also saw a welcome return of the Barclay Tea Interval the enjoyment of which caused a delay to the start of the second innings.

Findlay and Duthie started steadily and picked off 13 runs before Findlay was beaten by a peach of a delivery from Crabtree. Whilst the batsman congratulated the bowler on his effort, wicketkeeper Temple threw from afar and hit the stumps effectively stumping the batsman.

Wilson took to the crease and started rattling up the runs taking the score to 52 before hewas bowled by Smart with his own score on 27. Daniel Walls looked assured and picked his shots well, but got the direction wrong with a chip over the bowler Boyd and put into the hands of mid-off. He scored 17.

Corsie and Duthie made little fuss off the 16 needed for victory and duly completed the task in the 34 th over. Neil ‘Boycott’ Duthie cemented himself into the anchor role and is going to be a steady foundation for innings to come. His effort on this occasion realised 17 unbeaten runs whilst Corsie scored 12.

Crabtree, Boyd and Smart took the wickets for County.

A good no nonsense start to the season for Buckie and a welcome introduction to new signing Guy Lindsay who showed a good arm in the field and an eagerness to bat (would have been next in).

Thanks to James Jappy for sponsoring this match. Next week Buckie play Northern Counties in what should be a title influencing match even at this early stage. Due to the Inverness Meeting Park being under repair this game will be played at Forres with a 2.00pm start and sponsored by the Ardach Health Centre. See you there.