With the cricket season now 4 weeks old, Strathie's 1st XI have 3 wins and one defeat to show for their efforts so far.
Having lost the opening match of the league campaign at Stoneywood Dyce, followed up with a victory away to Dalnacraig, the players were keen to build some momentum as May month progressed when they took to the hallowed turf of Lochside Park for the first time in 2015. That said, no-one at the club foresaw a victory quite as convincing as the one which played out on Saturday 16th as Perth Doo'cot were swept aside by a winning margin of over 200 runs. Not only was it the largest victory by the 1st XI for a number of years, it was also the first time in quite a while that 2 Strathie's players have scored centuries in the same game.
Having won the toss and elected to bat, Strathie's openers put on 47 before Ed Taylor departed the scene. This brought together Michael Gourlay and South African import Thiart Le Roux for what was to be a stand in excess of 150 runs, Gourlay eventually succumbing for 110, due more to exhaustion than anything else, while Thiart carried his bat to finish with 109 not out. In the final few overs, Thiart was joined by Matty Simpson who continued his fine start to the season with a quick fire and lusty 35 not out to see the home team set their visitors a target in excess of 300.
In reply Doo'cot were struggling early doors with young Kennedy Gibb accounting for 4 of the opposition batsman in a 6 over spell, 3 of his wickets coming in one over.
Strathie's opening attack on the day average 16 1/2 years of age with Kennedy's opening partner, Morgan Evans, also producing a fine, albeit wicket less, 7 over spell from the Loch End.
First change duo of Chris "Monk" Milne and Imran Saim then took care of the other wickets to fall, with the last man standing left high and dry with Doo'cot's reply totalling 90.
The 2nd XI also recorded a victory that same weekend when they visited Dalnacraig on the Sunday.
Dalnacraig had first use of the wicket and posted 129 for 6, with old-timer Andy Sturrock showing the young guns the way with 3 wickets for a miserly 20 runs.
Strathie past the winning line for the loss of 7 wickets, with Thiart adding to his hundred of the day before with 83 not out.
Last weeks midweek fixture saw the Seconds in action on Wednesday night playing host to Montrose in the first round of the 2 Counties Cup. Unfortunately, the 2's were unable to carry on from where they left off on the Sunday and, having failed to post a target in excess of a hundred for our coastal neighbours to chase, were beaten with 3 overs to spare.
On Saturday past a Gordonians XI visited Lochside for a friendly fixture, the 1st XI having a free Saturday on account of Cupar Angus CC having gone into abeyance.
Batting first, Gordonians were restricted to 112, with Craig McDonald returning the first 5 wicket haul of the season for Strathie.
The home batsmen continued their impressive form of the last few weeks passing the winning line for the loss of only 1 wicket. Nigel Hazel's first innings of the season saw him in traditional mode carrying his bat for 45, with overseas amateur Thiart "T" Le Roux matching Nigel's score. T has now scored more than 200 runs since his castle last fell on the opening day of the season.
Next week see's the first XI return to league duty away to St Andrews University staff on Saturday, while the Seconds travel to Arbroath for their fixture on Sunday.