Weekend of mixed fortunes for Doo’cot’s first team

It was a mixed weekend of results for Perth Doo’cot’s first team.

Batting remains the weakness and this was illustrated in collapsing to 40-5 against a young Arbroath side on Saturday.

But the league match on home soil was changed thanks to Jamal Ali’s aggressive 68 before the lower order provided the support.

Perth would finish on 153 all out and then the bowling team made inroads early doors.

Arbroath also found themselves five down for less than 40 and there was to be no heroics from any of their batsmen.

The Angus visitors were eventually bowled out for only 76 in just 31 overs.

The wickets were shared between Patterson 4-7 and two apiece for Pennycook, Emslie and Mohsin.

There was a reality check on Sunday with defeat in the Scottish Cup to a strong East Kilbride side.

Sunday saw a reverse batting performance as good foundations were laid by Mohsin and Hussain in the first round tie at Doo’cot Park.

However, 130 for three became 158 all out as, not for the first time, the Perth batsmen failed to bat through all their allotted overs, being bowled out in the 40th over of the 50 scheduled.

This failure to bat their allotted overs has been a common theme in their league cricket too and has been by far the main reason why the first XI continue to end up mid-table rather than challenging for titles.

Too often Fair City batsmen give their wicket away through impatience and a desire to play T20 cricket in 45 or 50 over matches. When will the penny drop?

In response, East Kilbride attacked from the off, were selective in their shots and cantered to victory at almost a run a ball for the loss of four wickets.

Shoaib was pick of the bowlers with three wickets.

The 2nd XI made the short trip along the Dundee Road to Inchture on Saturday to play old friends Rossie Priory and they came away with a solid seven wicket victory.

Graham Ferguson won the toss and asked Rossie to bat on a wicket expected to favour his bowlers.

They responded to his decision by limiting the home side to a total of 104.

Daniel Patterson 3-21 and Jonathan Hill 2-22 did the early damage before David Armstrong rolled back the years with 3-17 and Fawad Ali claimed 2-7.

Scoring was never easy on the tricky surface and Perth were 55-3 before Ali 25 not out and youngster Ewan Riley with a confidence-boosting 24 not out saw Perth Doo’cot home with over five overs to spare.

This weekend sees only two matches - both on Saturday with the first XI in Dundee to play a struggling Dundee High School whilst the second XI entertain Glenrothes at Doo’cot.

On Sunday, two of the club’s promising youngsters Iain Chalmers and Oliver Patterson will be representing the area as part of the Caley Highlanders U17 side taking on the Western Warriors U17 in Glasgow in the regional competition.

The club wishes them well.