Forfarshire II facing tall order against leaders

Five weeks into the Strathmore and Perthshire NEC season there is a clear leader at last.

Stoneywood Dyce are four-from-four, and form suggests they will maintain that 100% record this week as they visit bottom side Forfarshire II.

In last Saturday’s top of the table clash, Stoneywood Dyce’s 36-run win over Gordonians was due in no small measure to South Africa’s Liam Linsdsay, slamming 54 then taking three for 16, and Jaques Koster, who was three for eight.

Forfarshire toiled to 147 against Arbroath United before going down by six wickets, so S/D will be confident of keeping their unbeaten record intact.

At Countesswells, Gordonians will look to put last week’s first defeat behind them when Arbroath United pitch up.

However, the visitors have a few batsmen in form. Darryl Sinclair and Blair and Bryce Carnagie have been in the runs over the past few weeks.

The home side will again look for support for Himanshu Saraswat and Hamaza Arshad to get a decent total on the board.

Kinloch made a poor fist of chasing 245-4 against Strathmore last week, with Hashid Kiana and Arun Trevidi claiming half of their 160 runs before they went down by 84 .

On their home patch they might fancy doubling their one win so far.

Opponents Dundee HSFP are again blowing hot and cold, the cold being demonstrated by last week’s inability to put up a chase in pursuit of Meigle’s 263-6. The rain did shorten the game but, at 90 for five after 30 overs, there was little likelihood of the Dalnacraig men getting anywhere close.

Having beaten Dundee last week, with Peter Drummond racking up a century, Meigle are second in the table.

At home to Mannofield they could be hard to beat, but the visitors have posted some useful totals.

Their 217 against Perth Doo’cot last week suggests a tight match in prospect if they can sharpen up their bowling.

Strathmore against Perth Doo’cot has fourth playing sixth (although Perth would be joint third with Gordonians had they not been deducted points for a slow over rate).

With both hitting well above 200 last week, this could be an entertaining joust.