Ford century propels Lichties to another home win over Shire

Brendon Ford emerged as the toast of unbeaten Arbroath as they picked up the latest in a sequence of league victories over Aberdeenshire on their own patch.

Ford struck 110 to propel the Lichties to 244 all out – then stand-in skipper Ross McLean shared an eight-wicket haul with Calvin Burnett to send the Dons crumbling to 201. Skipper Chris Venske’s excellent 133 was in vain as no other Shire batsman was able to pass the 20 mark.

Approaching his 39th year, Fraser Watts would seem to be as hungry for runs – and as capable of scoring them – as at any stage of his distinguished career.

Just ask Falkland. Watts smashed 162 at Grange Loan to pave the way for champions Carlton to get back to winning ways in the wake of the wretched start to their title defence.

There was no way back for Falkland after Watts and Mike Herdman (63) put on 183 for the second wicket.

The partnership propelled the hosts to 309 for seven, a tally that was never in danger, especially after the Fifers crumbled to 25 for three. They couldn’t recover and were shot out for 83.

Glenrothes suffered their first loss of the term as newlypromoted SMRH pulled off a shock at Gilvenbank to break their topflight duck.

Pro Shaylen Pillay seized the moment by hitting a decisive 88 not out in the rain-affected tussle. Pillay had snapped up two early wickets to help curb the hosts to 144. He held his nerve to steer the capital side over the line with two overs to spare.

Forfarshire’s anxieties deepened as they crashed to Grange at Raeburn Place.

New captain Umair Mohammed top scored with 55 in the Broughty Ferry brigade’s 168 all out. But unbeaten half-tons from Neil McCallum and Dylan Budge blunted the visiting attack when it mattered.

Meanwhile minnows Meigle produced the shock of the day in the Citylets Scottish Cup yesterday with a stunning six-wicket win over the 2010 and 2011 cup winners Uddingston.

The Western Premier side made just 128 before Tyler Aitchison’s half-century guided the Strathmore & Perthshire Union outfit to victory.

There was also an early exit for the 2015 winners Arbroath who went down by four wickets at Watsonians.

An opening partnership of 189 between Matty Parker and Callum Garden saw Forfarshire win the north-east derby against Aberdeenshire at Mannofield – and claim revenge for their Eastern Premier defeat a fortnight ago.