Champions Aberdeenshire bounce back - Tyler Buchan puts Dons on road to victory after poor start

The Dons suffered the double disappointment of opening weekend defeats to Dunfermline and the National Academy. However, they recaptured their title-winning form and, in the process, gave themselves a timely boost before launching their defence of the Scottish Cup against Forfarshire this afternoon.

Greenock arrived on the back of last week's defeat to Clydesdale and hopes of a change in fortune were quickly extinguished in a match dominated from the start by the home side.

Tyler Buchan, who could count himself unfortunate not to earn a nod from the Saltires' selectors for next week's Pro40 clash against Leicestershire, had the visitors on the back foot when he trapped Andy Hislop for a duck.

Buchan was sharing the new ball with Willie Gavera, the young Papua New Guinea internationalist, who also grabbed a debut wicket by bowling Sailesh Prabhu for seven.

However, Buchan, who bowled nine overs and took 2-11, was the dominant force in the early exchanges and he struck the biggest blow when he clean-bowled Saltires star Richie Berrington to reduce Greenock to 25-3.

Visiting skipper Kevin McLaren was run out as the sorry procession continued but middle order contributions from debutant Courtney Kruger, Chris Bellwood and Alex Baum effected a partial recovery. However, while all three reached 20, none could play the major innings that their team needed.

Instead home skipper Neil MacRae joined the attack to winkle out the tail with figures of 3-11 as Greenock slumped to 134 all out in 46 overs.

Kiwi professional Michael Parlane smashed four boundaries and a six in his 32 as the champions quickly put the issue beyond doubt.

Parlane was eventually removed by Bellwood after Willie Rowan had accounted for Graeme Tomlinson.

However, Colin Smith stroked an unbeaten 57, including ten boundaries, while teenager Matthew Cross hit 24 as Aberdeenshire completed an easy eight-wicket win.

If runs were scarce at Mannofield they were plentiful at Titwood where Clydesdale made 275-5 to send fancied Carlton crashing to their second defeat in a row.

The Edinburgh side had looked in command after Preston Mommsen and Jamie Kerr both hit centuries in an unbroken third wicket stand of 204. Mommsen, overlooked this week by the national selectors, made a cultured 119 while Kerr smashed 109 from just 82 deliveries.

However, Greig Williamson became the third centurion of the match with 105 while Qasim Sheikh stroked 68 and Kamran Sajid 60no as Clydesdale won with 15 balls to spare.

Division One's top match saw New Zealand star Michael Papps claim 5-30 yet still end on the losing side as Heriot's defeated Ayr Knights by 15 runs at Cambusdoon.

Meanwhile, forgotten man Gregor Maiden yesterday delivered a timely reminder to Scotland coach Pete Steindl by producing an astonishing all-round performance as he inspired Grange to victory over top flight newcomers Dunfermline.

Steindl was on the Raeburn Place boundary rope to watch Maiden smash a career-best 166 not out.

He then snapped up three cheap wickets to snuff out any prospect of a meaningful fightback by the Fifers.

Maiden's epic knock lasted only 151 balls and he thumped three sixes and 19 fours to guide the hosts to a lofty 294-8.

Vasu Reddy provided stout resistance with his 101 for the Fifers, but the support act were unable to produce the goods when it mattered and they slumped to 233 all out.

Maiden has been persistently overlooked by Steindl and his cohorts for some years. However, he proved in emphatic fashion that he is more than capable of shaping and winning matches.

Young Craig Wallace emerged as the Forfarshire hero as they eased past West of Scotland by five wickets at Forthill.

Wallace struck a solid 60 to guide Shire to the target of 206 in the 38th over.

Dougie Lockhart (55) and Greg Watson (42) had provided the backbone of the West innings, while home pro Kelby Pickering took three for 26.

And at Bothwell Castle Policies, Watsonians got off the mark with a comprehensive success against Uddingston.

The Myreside men posted a total of 237 before routing Uddy for only 166.