Derby rivals on song after Doo’cot collapse
The season is in danger of fizzling out for Perth Doo’cot after a disappointing 39 run loss to Forfarshire.
This clash with the club’s local rivals took a familiar route, with Perth fielding and watching the opposition race to 100 at over five an over for the loss of a solitary wicket.
They responded well, however, to restrict the opposition to a score lower than was looking likely.
In this case Forfarshire were 97 for one off 17 overs before Stuart McCreanor produced an excellent spell of 4-40, supported by Stephen Boyd (2-37) and Khyamm Sarral (2-20).
That saw Forfarshire all out for 205 in the 42nd over.
In response Perth sat promisingly on 114-3, needing 92 runs from 20 overs before a series of errors of batting judgement saw them slip to a disappointing 166 all out with six overs remaining.
Curtis Taylor top-scored on 50 with support from McCreanor (24) and skipper Graham Ferguson (22).
The Perth captain said:“We can’t continue to give teams 20 overs and 100 runs of a start and then when we are batting donate wickets to the opposition on good wickets.
“The game was there for the winning on Saturday against a side who have had a poor season themselves.
“In fact, they burst into song in their changing room after the game on Saturday night, such was their delight at winning.
“I am not sure sitting ninth in a 10-team league is the basis for a team sing-song but each to their own.
“Our concern is trying to regain some consistency in our performances over the last two games and trying to finish in the top half of the division.”
The 2nd XI travelled to Aberdeen and came back with 25 points, thanks to a nine run victory over hosts Stoneywood Dyce XI.
Perth scored 185 all out, with David Armstrong notching 48 with support from Rory Pennycook (25 no) and Muss Rehman (23).
The home side needed 25 off the last five overs but were held to only 16 and finished their innings on 176 for nine.
Rehman (3-23) and Pennycook (2-24) produced wickets to back up their runs and young Harry Jaffrey-Smith took 2-33.
The 3rd XI lost narrowly to Kinrosshire on Sunday. Batting first, Perth scored 174 for nine with runs from Ivor Patterson, Ron Rajcoomar and Ali Blair.
While Paterson and Blair also produced excellent bowling spells, James Ross saw Kinross home by two wickets with an unbeaten 120.
This weekend all three sides are away from home. The 1st XI play Stoneywood, the 2nd XI take on St Modans and the 3rd XI play Stirling.
Squads – 1st XI: G Ferguson (capt), E Knoesen, F McGaffney, R Pennycook, G Anderson, J Hill, S Boyd, I Patterson, S McCreanor, J McCreanor, T Brown, K Sarral. R McPhee (scorer) Players meet at Broxden Park and Ride at 10.15am.
2nd XI: D Armstrong (capt), T Sarral, R Pennycook, H Gow, A Sutherland, G Parsons, S Cranston, G Anderson, A Khan, M Rehman, T Rehman, A Blair. Players meet at Broxden Park and Ride at 11.30am.
3rd XI: A Blair (capt), T Rehman, T Sarral, R Rajcoomar, J Emslie, J McCreanor, S McCreanor, E Knoesen, G Parsons, G Patton, J Calder, F Ali. Players meet at Broxden Park and Ride at 11.30am.