Petrie in praise of ‘worthy’ winners

Arbroath skipper Marc Petrie last night paid a glowing tribute to newly crowned Eastern Premier cricket champions Heriot’s.

Petrie’s side were unable to prevent the capital troops from storming to victory at Goldenacre on Saturday to complete a memorable league and cup double.

The Arbroath captain said: “Heriot’s are definitely worthy winners and congratulations to them on a fantastic double-winning season.

“They are the best team in the league by quite a distance this year.”

Despite the absence of two key bowlers in Matthew Hurst and Daniel Salmond, Arbroath started the game well, managing to reduce their rivals to 116-4 with big guns Matthew Cross and Hayes van der Berg back in the pavilion.

However, Heriot’s showed their batting depth and cashed-in on Arbroath’s understrength attack to add 134 runs in the final 10 overs and hoist their tally to 346-5.

South African Michael Shean and former Scotland U19 batsman Durness Mackay-Champion did the bulk of the damage with 102no and 87 respectively while the visiting bowlers toiled.

Ross McLean stroked an attractive 41 for Arbroath but they never threatened to pull off an unlikely chase and were all out for 177.

Petrie added: “I’m sure it would have made a difference if we’d had Matthew and Daniel but I was still confident in the players I had.

“We just took our foot off the gas a bit and they took advantage of it, one of the reasons they’re as good a team as they are.

“They have depth in their batting line-up so if their top order don’t hit the runs there are always guys in the middle who can do it.”

The Arbroath captain may have been forgiven for envying the Edinburgh club’s strategy of signing-up several Scotland caps along with a couple of South African-born players but stoutly defended his club’s policy of focusing on local talent.

He continued: “I think each club has their own strategy that they think works for them. I am proud of the fact we have gone this season with a squad of all homegrown players who have come through the Arbroath youth system.

“I am sure we will benefit from this in the long term and it is certainly my preference for building a team.

“I am passionate about developing the youth of the club and grateful for the support we have from our coaches and volunteers putting in the hard work to make this happen.”

Arbroath still have the chance of finishing in the top half of the table if they win their final game against RH Corstorphine on Saturday but survival is the name of the game for Meigle.

The Perthshire side slipped back to the bottom of the table following a heavy eight-wicket defeat to Grange at Portgower Place and now must beat Stewart’s Melville to preserve top-flight status.

Meigle were all out for 82 with only Zahid Rasheed and Charles Clark reaching double figures before Grange took just 12 overs to reach the target.

Meanwhile, StewMel were beaten by RH Corstorphine by just one run to set up Saturday’s do-or-die clash at Victory Park.

Forfarshire’s season is in danger of petering out, the 2019 champions slipping to a second consecutive defeat at Carlton.

Shire were on course to chase a moderate 205 when they reached 90-0 but they fell away to 163 all out.