NoSCA Senior Cup 2014

Posted on 14 September 2014

Fochabers v Forres St Lawrence

North Of Scotland Senior League KO Cup Final

The  NoSCA Senior KO Cup Final sponsored by Blake GeoServices was played on The North Lawn at Gordonstoun on Saturday 6th September. In an entertaining Match the Forres team came out worthy winners by four wickets with three overs to spare.

The Speysiders won the toss and elected to bat on a dry firm wicket. However, Forres opening bowler Mattie Hewson struck with his second delivery when Fochabers skipper Adi Mehta edged behind to wicket keeper Roberts. Colin Sanders came in at number three and after ‘cutting’ Gus Farr for four departed three balls later as he played on to his stumps. Chris Priddle came and went after facing five deliveries when he was pouched by Steve Ryder to give Hewson his second wicket in consecutive overs. With the score at 8 for 3, it didn’t look good for the league champions as Hemat Mandal came to the crease to keep Chris Woodward company. The batting pair ‘dug in’ and Woodward began to punish any loose deliveries. The score had reached 30 when Mandal skied a Hewson delivery to David Durrance at wide mid on after scoring 4. Mark Stockwell then took up the reins and although scoring runs cautiously, supported his batting partner to take the score to 61, before Woodard played all around a Durrance delivery and lost his leg stump after scoring 35.

Dan Davidson came in at number 7 in the fifteenth over and like his batting partner started cautiously. However the batsmen began to take control and the runs started to flow with the hundred being posted in over twenty one. The rain then caused a  seventeen minute break, but following resumption of play and six over later 140 was posted. Unfortunately for the Fochabers side Stockwell departed one run later as Gus Farr knocked back his stumps after he had contributed 42 to the total. Liz Priddle came to the crease with four overs to go and looked to score runs at every opportunity, however the following over Davidson departed after he skied to Al Farr off the bowling of Neil McGrath for 37. Paul Bijl had his legs stretched by the running of Priddle and this caused his downfall as he failed to make his ground going for a hopeful second run. Mike Fox came in for the last delivery of the innings and took the Fochabers final score to 167 for 8 off their allotted thirty overs.

Pick of the Forres bowlers were – Mattie Hewson 6 overs 3 wickets for 20 runs & Gus Farr 6 overs 2 wickets for 41 runs.

Tea was taken at the Duffus Inn before play resumed with Pritpal Dhami facing the bowling of Arnav Mehta. With the first delivery of the innings Dhami clipped the ball to Fox at short mid wicket who held on to the ball diving forward, as umpire Cross called ‘no ball’ as the bowler overstepped the crease. A let off for the leagues leading batsman as he looked to make the bowler pay for the error. Both Dhami & his opening batting partner Steve Ryder hit deliveries to the boundary. However, with the score on 25 Dhami edged Davidson behind and Woodward comfortably took the catch. Nigel Gerrard came to the crease but had no answer to the first ball he faced. Neil McGrath joined the fray and he stuck three lusty blows before he was given out LBW, as Davidson pinned him back in front of his stumps after he scored 14 runs. With the score showing 48 for 3 wickets in over 8, Fochabers felt they were back in the game although Ryder had been scoring freely. Gus Farr then came to the crease and the batting pair began to control proceedings taking the score to 107 in over 18. Ryder than made a rare error when he edged a Mark Stockwell delivery straight to the waiting hands of Paul Bijl at slip, however the ball was grounded and the chance was lost. One run later, Farr departed when he picked out Adi Mehta on the long off boundary off the bowling of Chris Priddle, after scoring 17. Seven runs later Derek Ross had no answer to a Stockwell delivery which took the score to115 for 5 with less than eight overs to go. Al Farr came to the crease and he made his intentions known from the off, striking the ball high to the rope. However a moment of controversy as Stockwell thought he was bowling a high delivery to Farr and shouted ‘sorry’ to the batsman. The ball hit the stumps and the batsmen walked off the field of play. The Umpires deliberated for about five minutes before the batsman was called back as a ‘Dead Ball’ was declared. With twenty three runs required with five overs left Al Farr took proceedings into his own hands, by taking Arni Mehta for twenty two runs off his fifth over. Dan Davidson then bowled a ‘wide’ to conclude the game as Forres finished on 168 for 6. Al Farr finished unbeaten on 39 and Steve Barron 3 not out to enable the Forres side to lift the KO Cup Trophy.

Dan Davidson was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 5.1 Overs, 4 wickets for 34 runs.

The Umpires awarded the MacArthur Man of the Match Trophy to Steve Ryder of Forres.

The North of Scotland Cricket Association would like to thank Gordonstoun School for hosting the KO Cup Final and  Gerry Cross & Scott Campbell for Umpiring the match.