No panic at Forfarshire despite derby defeat

Forfarshire captain Umair Mohammed insisted there is no panic in the wake of their fourth loss in a row, this time to derby rivals Arbroath, who head Grange at the top on run-rate.

Mohammed declared: “We have been playing some really good cricket and it is disappointing that we haven’t been able to convert that into the results we have been wanting.

“I think we just need a little bit of luck and we should be earning more for our efforts.

“I am certainly not getting disheartened because the boys are giving me everything and they are fighting all the way.

“We have to remember that our team has a low average age.

“There is a tremendous amount of quality there and it is only a matter of time before we start to pick up the wins.”

Matty Parker top scored with 61 as Forfs reached 176 at Forthill, Calvin Burnett and Brendon Ford sharing an eight-wicket haul. The tally proved to be no great challenge to Arbroath, for whom Ford (55) and Ross McLean were the mainstays.

Glenrothes captain Safyaan Shariff insisted his charges had the rough end of the rain-restriction regulations as Heriot’s gathered a tense and precious win at Goldenacre.

The international all-rounder said: “The Duckworth Lewis formula played a big part when we had to chase.

“A target of 179 in 31 overs is tough at the best of times, so I think we did pretty well to get within five runs of getting the verdict.

“We will take lots of positives from the experience and we know that our fielding and catching could have been better.

“That gave Heriot’s more runs than they should have had.”

Home skipper Keith Morton added: “It was a big relief to get over the line in the end.

“The series of rain stoppages took the momentum out of the match and turned it into a scrappy affair.

“We were not at our best, so that made the result all the more welcome.”

Falkland remain rooted at the foot of the table, thanks to their 17-run loss to newly promoted SMRH at Scroggie Park.