Aberdeenshire underlined their title credentials at Mannofield where they ran out convincing eight wicket winners at the expense of a bottom-placed SMRH side which has yet to win a game in the league this season.
Shire captain Tyler Buchan said: “It was a game we were expected to win, and we did in some style. We bowled well, and then batted particularly well with opener Chris Venske in superb form, hitting his second century of the season, while getting good support from our pro Harsha Cooray who had an unbeaten 34.”
Buchan had every reason to be pleased, reaching a landmark of his own when overseas amateur Hayes van der Berg caught Matthew Briers to hand his captain his 200th wicket for the club.
“It was a big wicket for me, but I am more pleased for the team. We are in a good place, and will build on this. It sets us up nicely for our away trip to Arbroath United last season’s champions.”
The Edinburgh side won the toss and elected to bat, but were never able to dominate the home attack in which Buchan and Van der Berg were prominent. Buchan in particular was at his best, making batsmen play and miss on a regular basis, ending the afternoon with two for 40 from 12 overs, although it was the overseas amateur who had the better figures of three from 25 from his eight overs.
Van der Berg captured the invaluable scalp of Cedric English just as he was getting into his stride for 23.
Seventeen-year-old Ryan West was also in good form, taking one for 13 from his seven overs.
A modest total of 177 was never going to be enough, particularly with Venske in such good nick.
The South African cruised through his 133-ball knock, hitting seven fours, and two mighty sixes, one of which took him to his century to end the day on 102 not out.
Cooray was equally belligerent, hitting 16 from three balls in a stand with Venske worth 75.
Earlier in the Shire reply Calum Howard (23) had put on 103 for the first wicket in a partnership dominated by Venske, now in his second year with the Aberdeen club, and is an acquisition to cherish for the club who are hitting the straps just at the right time in the season.