Perth Doo’cot beat the drop

Perth Doo’cot had to rely on results elsewhere to ensure they will not finish bottom of the league.

Another disappointing performance on Saturday afternoon ended in a 90-run loss against Meigle.

Things looked positive for the Perth side as Rizwan Akbar and Ivor Patterson reduced Meigle to 96-6.

But Meigle pro Raju Gayashan was not one of the six and he underpinned the east Perthshire men’s final total of 220 for nine with an excellent 93.

Dropped catches proved costly and Doo’cot should have been chasing a total nearer 180.

But even 180 would have proved too much as the Perth batsmen once again displayed an unwillingness to spend time at the crease.

Only Asif Naeem with 46 and Kash Khalil with 27 offered any meaningful resistance as Doo’cot were bowled out for a disappointing 130.

They now sit in eighth place, one bonus point behind Dundee High School with the two sides playing tomorrow in the City of Discovery in the final match of the season.

A win will see Perth finish the season in seventh place, matching their 2016 and 2017 finishes.

Defeat will mean a final placing of eighth or ninth, depending on the result of the Gordonians versus Strathmore match.

Regardless of the final placing, some hard winter decisions and individual performance analysis will be needed. Too many players have underperformed.

The second XI gave an excellent account of themselves against Division One leaders Kinloch but lost by 49 runs.

The St Andrews side play an all-out, attacking game which means they score quickly but not without taking risks.

On Saturday they amassed a total of 246 for eight but the Perth bowlers and fielders stuck to their task well, led by Tass Rehman and Jerry Paul.

Fourteen-year-old Daniel Patterson took two fine catches on his second team league debut.

Old heads Jonathan Hill and Graham Ferguson, supported by Wayne Sullivan and Ali Blair, saw Perth score 197 in reply.

They sit in a comfortable fifth place as they entertain fourth-placed Forfarshire third XI in tomorrow’s final game.

Perth’s third XI game against Breadalbane on Sunday fell victim to the weather.

Results: 1st XI 130 all out (A Naeem 46, K Khalil 27, R Gayashan 3-17) lost to Meigle 220-9 (R Gayashan 93, M Abkbar 3-26, I Patterson 3-26) by 90 runs.

2nd XI 197 all out (J Hill 69, G Ferguson 44, W Sullivan 25, A Blair 22no, J Shah 5-24) lost to Kinloch 246-8 (M Ali 46, T Rehman 3-46, J Paul 3-53) by 49 runs.