Stoneywood frustrated as weather hits top clash

A perfect start to the season in the Strathmore and Perthshire NEC has finally been brought to a halt

Thirty-five games without interruption over seven weekends gave an excellent picture of who was either succeeding or toiling as the league unfolded.

Then came last Saturday – and with it the rain.

There was a top-ofthe-table clash between Stoneywood Dyce and Falkland, both unbeaten and well ahead of thirdplaced challengers Forfarshire 2nd.

At People’s Park it was all set for a fascinating shoot-out for that coveted undisputed place at the top and when the home side had Falkland reeling at 151 all out, they looked set to claim that spot for their own.

Jamie King and Liam Lindsay had three wickets apiece, Harsah Cooray was the only Falkland batsman to make any dent in the home attack with 45 – then the rain came.

S/D got to 43-0 after eight overs and looked to be cruising but a downpour sent everyone back to the pavilion.

There looked like a chance that S/D might get another 20 overs in which would more than likely have given them the win, but the umpires decided to wait for the weather to ease.

But, as is the way of these things, it simply poured down harder and no result was the order of the day.

It must have occurred to Strathmore that they had been singled out for punishment as they would probably have settled for a rain cancellation like everyone else instead of batting first at Mannofield.

Struggling to 70 in less than 21 overs. Finlay Anderson took 5-9, Phil Wood 4-22, Gavin Hewitson’s 22 was the only resistance and Indika Yahathugoda’a 42 steered Mannofield home for the loss of one wicket in just over 10 overs.

The matches between Dundee HSFP and Arbroath, Forfarshire 2nd and Gordonians and Meigle and Perth Doo’cot were all cancelled without a ball being bowled.

● The Eastern Premier games involving both Arbroath and Forfarshire were postponed due to the inclement conditions.