It was all or nothing for Buckie at Linzee Gordon Park on Saturday as the destiny of the 2018 Black Dog Financial Services League title went down to the wire. Buckie needed to win the match to have a chance of being champions but even that would not be enough if visitors Forres St Lawrence could muster five bonus points. Much thinking had been done by the home side as to how to best approach the game. The consensus reached was sensible – concentrate on winning and let the chips fall as they would as far as bonus points were concerned. Buckie captain Daniel Walls was delighted to win the toss and had no hesitation in deciding to bowl first on a surface that looked likely to offer the bowlers some help. His bowlers didn’t let him down. The Forres batsmen had no answer to another imperious spell from Barry Newlands, surely the best bowler in the league. He quickly removed the first three Forres wickets without conceding a run, including the big prize of the dangerous Gus Farr. With this opening burst, Barry pretty much decided the game and the destination of the title. Three wickets apiece from Joe Hough and John Corsie, backed up by a couple of good catches and some keen fielding, ensured that Barry’s hard work was not in vain. The
Forres innings ended on a meagre 50 all out. With no bonus points for Forres in the first innings, Buckie just needed to knock off the runs required to win the game to be league champions. Asim Ali quickly settled any nerves among the home team by smashing the ball all around the park. He raced to 34 not out and had the honour of hitting the winning runs in only the ninth over. Buckie had completed a dream season, adding the Black Dog Financial Services league to the Knock-Out Cup and 20 / 20 Cup won in the previous few weeks.
Congratulations to captain Daniel Walls and all at Linzee Gordon on a remarkable season. The weather has been glorious and there have been several stand out memories: Miland Mehta’s double hundred in the cup, Adi Mehta’s hundred against Highland to win the 20/20 cup and Asim Ali’s 98 against Ross County (the biggest sustained hitting seen at Buckie for many years) top the batting highlights. The bowling has been exceptional. No team has had an answer to Barry with many sides now opting just to try and see him off without incurring too much damage. Despite this,
he frequently gets the top batsmen out and never concedes many runs. When Joe Hough bowls well too, they are a formidable partnership. There were also some great team wins. The last ball victory against Highland at Buckie, the nine-man win at Fort William and the battling win against Northern Counties in inverness that kept the possibility of a league title alive, crucial wins all. Roll on 2019. Forres St Lawrence: 50 all out (0 points). J Hough (3 wickets for 10 runs), J Corsie (3 for 14), B Newlands (3 for 15). Buckie: 52 for 1 wicket (20 points). A Ali 34 not out.