ROUND-UP Red Lichties one step away from the title

ARBROATH’S title hopes received a huge boost on Saturday in cricket’s CSL Eastern Premier Division.

They squeezed home in a tight match against Glenrothes while nearest challengers Grange suffered a surprise loss against Aberdeenshire.

These results mean that Arbroath only now have to win their final game this week to win the title with Heriot’s the only other possible winner as they moved up to second.

Glenrothes won the toss and batted at Lochlands but found runs hard to come by as Craig Ramsay and Elton Willemse both took three wickets as they could post only 135 all out.

Arbroath also found scoring hard but 32 from Hayden Laing saw the Lichties home with two wickets to spare.

At Grange, the home team posted 223 with Ryan Flannigan top scoring with 82 against Aberdeenshire. In reply Ian Kirk (89) and Kev Reid (62) saw the Dons to victory with four wickets in hand.

Forfarshire proved too strong for the struggling Falkland side at Scroggie Park as Christian Robertson (4-16) ripped through the home batting line-up as they were shot out for only 85.

A half-century from Matty Parker saw Forfarshire home for the loss of only one wicket.

Heriot’s continued their good run of form with an easy seven-wicket win over SMRH.

Marc Watt took four wickets as SMRH were dismissed for 103 and he then scored 38 not out as they eased home.

The final game saw an under strength Carlton side l ose heavily to local rivals Watsonians.

Aman Bailwal took 4-14 as Carlton were shot out for only 84 before Watsonians romped home for the loss of only three wickets.

All the games in the Western Premier Division were rained off, while two games went ahead in the Championship with Stirling beating St Michael’s and GHK defeating Stenhousemuir.