The 2009 Grade 4 season began with a washout when the opening fixture against Stoneywood-Dyce was abandoned after 34.4 overs at Rubislaw due to rain.
The weather was sunny as the match started, Stoney-Dyce winning the toss and deciding to bat first.
Karthik opened the bowling from the Cromwell Road end, and was unlucky when a sharp chance was dropped in the second over. Blyth opened from the Pavillion End, but both opening batsmen looked solid. Blyth’s opening spell, 6-0-24-0.
Phillips replaced Blyth and immediately looked dangerous. He took a wicket in his third over when he bowled Ahmed for 12, score 53-1. Karthik had bowled 8 accurate overs for 21 runs, and was replaced by Magesh, bowling off breaks.
Magesh struck in his second over when Karthik took a tricky catch at mid wicket, doing well to hold on to the ball as he slipped on the damp grass. Two overs later Magesh took a second wicket, having Rodgers caught by Fraser in the covers for 5, score 54-2 after 18 overs.
Stoney-Dyce batsman Leask was batting very well, reaching his 50 with a powerful drive for 4. The wet ball was beginning to cause problems for the bowlers and Leask and Anderson both scored quickly. As the rain became heavier and the wicket became dangerously slippery, an early tea was agreed, Stoney-Dyce having scored 168-3 off 34.4 overs.
With no sign of the rain easing off, and no chance of the wicket or outfield drying, the match was abandoned.
Prior to the rain, the bowling had been accurate despite limited pre-season practice. The ground fielding was sharp on a difficult outfield, and the backing up was first class, with Houghton in particular shining.
