FINALLY, after a run of six defeats, Inverurie gained their first win of the season in the Aberdeenshire Cricket Association Grade One League against fellow strugglers Caledonian.

Skipper Norval won the toss at Duthie Park, which was sitting in a fair amount of haar, and invited the home side to bat first.

Moore, returning to the side after a long absence, opened the bowling in partnership with Strachan and was into his stride immediately, having Smith caught behind by the keeper Murrison in only his second over, and then bowling Kash in his third, leaving Caledonian at 12 for 2.

Chapman and Himanshu then managed to put a small partnership together, although all the shots were played by Himanshu with quite a few of them in the air, but unfortunately for ICC into gaps.

Hadden replaced Moore, who finished a good spell with two wickets for 13, and immediately put a break on the scoring. Himanshu fell in the next over for 20, to another catch by Murrison this time off Strachan, bringing van Oorshot to the crease who again went for a few shots, mainly using Strachan's pace.

Hadden continued to keep the batsmen very quite until van Oorshot finally had a swipe, only succeeding in top-edging the ball to Norval who managed to cling on to the catch after an initial fumble, out for 14.

Morrison replaced Strachan and continued his recent good form with the ball inducing three wickets to fall as the Caledonian batting started to subside. Sandeep, batting at nine, played a few shots against Morrison but then managed to run himself out trying to get off strike facing Hadden, after a good gather and throw from Strachan.

Hadden finally removed the obdurate Chapman (16) who had been content to just defend against the spinner's tight control with a bluff of setting the field back to allow the single to be taken, Chapman then edging to the only close in fielder, Coutts at slip.

Parr replaced Morrison and after a strong lbw shout first ball, bowled White with his second to wrap the innings up for 82. A fine end to the season for Parr who now leaves Aberdeen for a summer break after finishing his studies. The wickets were shared around with Morrison grabbing 3 for 18, and Moore and Hadden getting two each.

Inverurie had achieved their first aim of restricting the batting points of Caledonian to a miserly 3, now they had to reach the target of 82 without any alarms which had been all too evident in previous innings.

Strachan and Hadden opened the innings for Inverurie and steadily built a good partnership after a watchful first few overs. Using their large strides to get well forward and negate lbw possibilities they waited for the bad balls which were then dispatched, however the first boundary didn't come until the ninth over.

With the scoring rate moving up past three an over, van Oorshot was taken for a few boundaries and it was no surprise to see him replaced after seven overs by White. The ICC batsmen continued their serene progress finally achieving the target with a boundary by Strachan off 22.1 overs, Strachan finishing with 43 not out and Hadden, still struggling with limited mobility on 29 not out.

In the end, very much mission achieved, with full points for Inverurie and Caledonian restricted to a mere three, bringing ICC right up to the tails of the others at the bottom of Grade One.

The match ball was kindly donated by R. Mackie.

Caledonian 82 all out. Himanshu 20. C. Morrison 3 for 18; J. Moore 2 for 13; G. Hadden 2 for 18.

Inverurie 84 for 0. M. Strachan 43 not out, G. Hadden 29 not out.

Inverurie continue their long stretch of away fixtures next with a vital match against another team close to them in the league, Cults 2nds at Allan Park.