Forfarshire seconds fall six runs short as Mannofield win opener

Compared to last season when only one out of five matches on the first Saturday of the Strathmore and Perthshire NEC went ahead, it was perfect start this term and the five games produced some intriguing cricket even at this early stage.

An opening day cracker unfolded at Mannofield where the home side hit an impressive 221-6 with John Dickinson unbeaten on 66 and opener Will Anderson notching 47.

Graeme Black took 4-39 for Forfarshire seconds and it looked as though they were going to catch the Mannofield total with some ease.

Openers Richard Rennie and Graeme Garden hit 67 and 36 respectively before Jack Hogarth pitched in with 43 as the target loomed close.

However, disaster struck with the final six wickets falling for 13 runs, leaving Shire six runs short.

Defending champions Gordonians had Strathmore all back in the pavilion for 84 after facing less than 28 overs –but it took the home side a bit of scratching to pass that total by which time they had six batsmen back in the pavilion.

Neither side had home advantage when Stoneywood Dyce headed for Dundee HSFP, who had to use Strathmore’s Lochside ground for their opening match.

S/D batted first and overseas amateur Liam Lindsay scored exactly half the 146 total with a huge knock of 73 while Daren Milne and Balaji Ramalingham pegged away to take 3-36 and 3-24.

When Dundee came to bat they fell quite a bit short. Blake Newport got to 32 and when Majid Rasheed hit four sixes for his 24 as things looked bright for the home side .

Solid bowling from Lindsay with 3-49 and a very impressive 4-15 falling to S/D’s other overseas amateur Jacques Koster saw Dundee end up 19 runs short on 127.

There was a shortage of runs at Victory Park where Meigle could only muster 138 thanks to Matt Farmer’s 47 as Sean Christie and Euan Rosie chipped away to end up with figures of 4-18 and 4-32.

Arbroath United seconds couldn’t stretch to that though as they went down in just over 27 overs for 106 with only Jack Plomer offering any resistance with a 33 – but the damage was done by Farmer, who exchanged bat for ball to take 4-17 and earn Meigle the points.

It was a close run thing at Doo’cot Park with Perth Doo’cot set to chase the 160 posted by Kinloch,with Mohamed Shoaib grabbing 38.

Ivor Patterson collected 4-28 but the home side ran out of steam and batsmen shortly before they had reached 45 overs. Scott Taylor smacked 66 of their 149 but it was Hassabe Kiyani’s 4-33 which helped clinch victory for Kinloch.