Inn at the Park have secured the league title after the deadline for playing rearranged league matches (5th August inclusive) passed with the match between the Dec Rebels and Dutchmill remaining unplayed (treated as an abandoned match). This meant that Inn at the Park finished the season on 18 points, with both the Dec Rebels and Ellon finishing on 17 points (the Rebels runners up by way of a better margin). At the other end of the table, Caledonian picked up the wooden spoon.

The abandonment of the rescheduled fixture between the DeC Rebels and Dutchmill after 15 overs last Tuesday was to prove crucial in deciding the league title. A 59 run or 6 wicket victory for the Rebels would have secured a third title in as many years, however the weather intervened as it sometimes does in all levels of cricket.

Although Dutchmill made themselves available to play on Wednesday 6th August (the Rebels were playing Ellon in the Oxy Cup on Tuesday 5th August),  the AECL Committee (after much discussion) ruled that an extension to the season was a change to the Rules as laid down at the beginning of the season; any change to the Rules must be considered at the AGM, not mid-season. The Notes issued at the beginning of the season stated:

'Any match that has been postponed (see Rule 4) must be played before Tuesday 5th August (inclusive) otherwise it will be treated as an abandoned match for the purposes of calculating the final league table.  Both captains must be in agreement to reschedule the match.'

The situation was very hard luck on the Rebels and a cruel way to lose the league (it so happened that no cricket  would have been possible on Wednesday 6th August due to the persistent rain).

The likelihood of such an outcome has increased since the league has expanded to 12 teams, leaving no spare Tuesdays for rescheduled matches (some teams find it difficult to raise a team on any other day). Every year the top teams are reminded towards the end of the season the impact rescheduled matches can have on the title and so far this years situation has been successfully avoided.   Teams have on occasions also chosen to keep their distance from rescheduled games, as a single point from a postponed fixture has all that has been required to secure the title. Clearly what has happened this year has been very unfortunate and needs to be addressed at the AGM (not allowing rescheduled matches clearly sorts this out). Given the nature of the league, some of the AECL Rules (developed before my time) appear past their sell by date and require revision.

Having said that, it was another successful league campaign in the AECL, with plenty of matches, runs, wickets and hopefully plenty of enjoyment by all (the most important point).

The Rebels now have the Oxy Cup Final to look forward to on Wednesday 13th August.