Undefeated Falkland out to maintain record at Perth

Into round six of the Strathmore and Perthshire NEC and there has yet to be a serious challenge to the top two undefeated clubs, Stoneywood Dyce and Falkland and it would be a surprise if, even with both playing away this weekend, that changes today.

Falkland are at Doo’cot Park and look to have too much fire in their bowling line up and power with the bat to be bested by Perth.

Ben Strachan has had a great start to the season for Falkland with bat and ball, with a top score of 81 and coming off a 6-19 haul against Strathmore last week while Perth have only two wins to their name.

Last week’s defeat by 78 runs at the hands of ASI Gordonians came as big dent to their hopes for the season.

At Dalnacraig, a Dundee HSFP side currently second bottom in the table without a win since their opening day success against Mannofield take on joint leaders Stoneywood Dyce.

Last week’s seven-wicket thumping at the hands of Meigle can have done their confidence no good at all.

In Raju Gayashan, Meigle have one of the league’s most impressive batsmen who has slammed a more than useful 322 league runs in five innings, topping a half century on four of those outings. That means Arbroath United will have to be very wary of him indeed when Meigle pitch up at Lochlands.

Winless and bottom of the able they may be but Arbroath showed last week that they could build a score as they chased Forfarshire 2nd’s 352 and came up only 18 runs short so if Bryce Carnagie, Greig Peel and Jack Plomer can get back in the groove, another run-fest could be on the cards.

Team selection will no doubt determine whether Forfarshire 2nd can replicate that monster 352-1 total they posted last Saturday against Arbroath with Chris Greaves unbeaten on 206 but regardless of personnel, they will be formidable opponents when they pitch up at Mannofield.

The home side have one success in the win column and that was the rather less than convincing defeat of Arbroath United so it would look like an away win is on the cards.

ASI Gordonians wll be looking to make it three wins on the bounce when they head for Strathmore.

The Forfar outfit have only two wins from five starts and will be looking to overseas amateur Michael Shum to provide a lead with bat and ball, something he has shown himself to be eminently capable of.