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Despite heavy overnight rain, the game went ahead and the Sun was even sighted for perhaps the first time in a month!
Bute batted first, facing the St. Andrews opening bowlers Angus Stewart and stand-in skipper Matt Clarke on a slighty damp, slow wicket. Matt soon removed the first of Bute's openers, well caught by Dave Miller. Some tight bowling from Angus and Mudi Naqib kept the remaining Bute opener tamed and the run rate down, despite some quality shots from M. Chrichton, the Bute captain. Patrick Jess and Dave Miller continued the good work, Dave having R. Chrichton caught behind, the first of four dismissals for 'keeper Eric Stempels. Patrick then got just reward for a good spell, bowling G. Crichton, before Dave struck in the very next over, removing the dangerous M. Crichton for a top score of 45, thanks to another well-taken catch from Eric. G. Dickinson and M. Manvell then kept the scoreboard moving, rotating the strike well against Alex Smith and Vit Matuska, before Alex struck with a double wicket maiden, thanks to a comfortably taken catch from Gregor Hall at midwicket and an excellent stumping from Eric. Mudi and Dave were brought back to bowl the last two overs and picked up a wicket apiece, Dave's courtesy of a very good catch from Vit at fine leg, and Mudi's thanks to a second stumping from Eric. A good, disciplined bowling and fielding performance had restricted Bute County to a total of 148 for 8 after 40 overs.
An excellent first over for St. Andrews followed tea, Sid Singh taking 15 from the opening over of the innings. Thereafter, however, scoring proved more difficult, with the Bute attack bowling a disciplined line. Stand-in opener Eric fell early but Sid and Stu combined well before the excellent M. Crichton came on to bowl and dismissed Stu and Gregor, with Matt and Mudi falling shortly afterwards. Sid continued in excellent form, before being bowled by Lintermans for a superb 63. Dave batted well to finish not out on 25, but despite a couple of hard hit fours from Angus and the best efforts of Patrick and Vit, St. Andrews fell just 5 runs short. Despite the loss, a thrillingly close match was enjoyed by all and we hope to see Bute again soon.