Harsha at the crease is sure to lift Falkland

Falkland were handed a huge boost last night with the arrival of Sri Lankan star Harsha Cooray. The all-rounder faced a six-week wait for international clearance but goes straight into the Fifers’ side for today’s Eastern Premier clash with Stewart’s Melville at Inverleith.

Cooray, 38, boasts more than 6,000 runs in First Class cricket and is also a useful bowler who played for the Scroggie Park side in 2010 and 2011 before spending five seasons with Aberdeenshire.

He returned to Falkland in 2017 and was a key figure in last season’s successful promotion campaign.

Skipper Lyle Robertson said: “It’s a massive bonus for us to have Harsha here. We all know the experience, knowledge and ability he brings, so everyone is going to get a huge lift from that.”

With just one victory to date, Falkland will bid to bounce back from last week’s defeat to Watsonians when they face a Stewart’s Melville team who are just one place above them in the table.

Robertson added: “We’re looking forward to the challenge – we’ve been training hard this week and have confidence and belief going into the game.

“We know they have a good side but we have a strong team out and are excited to express ourselves on the pitch again this week.”

Elsewhere, Arbroath continue their quest for a first victory when they head to Myreside to face Watsonians.

Unlike Falkland, the Lochlands club still await the arrival of their overseas professional, South African Wihan Lubbe.

Arbroath have again been hit by a string of call-offs with Craig Cameron, Craig Ross, Marc Petrie, and Blair Carnegie all out.

Skipper Bryce Carnegie said: “It’s been a tough season so far – we’ve only had a full team out once.

“We are also one of the only teams who don’t have an overseas player or Scottish international.

“But hopefully we can get a settled team soon and, even without overseas players, I believe this group of players will turn the season around. As far as Wihan goes, it’s just a waiting game for the visa.”

Ben Omara, Pranav Saravanan, John Salmond, and Luke Hayes are drafted in for today’s trip to the capital.

Meanwhile, having come off second best to champions Heriot’s a week ago, Forfarshire face another of the division’s big guns when they visit Grange.

’Shire were unable to defend a healthy 315 against Heriot’s as a Craig Wallace century went unrewarded and skipper Scott Cameron admitted: “We didn’t field and bowl well enough but we’re looking forward to the next challenge.”