Inquiry into ‘abuse and damage’ after Aberdeenshire’s shock win at Arbroath

Official sat arbroath and aberdeen shire have launched an investigation after ugly scenes marred the end of their Eastern Premiership match.

Shire had pulled off a shock victory over the league leaders at Lochlands, but Aberdeenshire skipper Chris Venske accused home supporters of abusing his players and behaving “outrageously.”

Arbroath president Gary Burnett insisted their fans were reacting to seeing an Aberdeenshire player punching a hole in the wall of the changing room.

Burnett said: “Any abuse was directed at the Aberdeenshire player when he put his fist through the wall. The dressing room door was open at the time, so it happened in full view of several people.

“The abuse had nothing to do with the cricket. It was about the damage he had done. It was a strange way to behave when your team has won. I hate to think what he might have done if they had lost.”

Venske said: “It was a fiery encounter. The abuse we got from some of the crowd has no place in cricket.”

Arbroath captain marc petrie added: “What happened off the park is being dealt with by both clubs. ”

Venske emerged as the pick of the attack as Arbroath limped to 150 all out. He took four for 25, while Ross Mclean and Hayden Laing each hit 39 for the Lichties. Aberdeenshire reached the target with four wickets and more than five overs in hand.

Grange maintained their push for glory with a 36-run victory over Forfarshire, whose inconsistencies haunted them again at Forthill.

The capital troops reached 174 for eight in 40 overs with Dylan Budge (47) and Ryan Flannigan (41) leading the way.

Only Craig Wallace could get to the 30-mark for the hosts, thanks to tight bowling from James Tapper (four for 23) and Nick Farrar (four for 36.)

Glenrothes shrugged off a series of scares to earn revenge for their shock loss earlier in the season to SMRH.

Fred Culley’s 48 paved the way for a tally of 161 at Inverleith. Then three wickets apiece for Chris Mohale and Yasir Arfat sent SMRH sliding to 94 all out.

Revenge was quick and sweet for Heriot’s, who halted the surge of Watsonians at Myreside. Sonians had disposed of their neighbours clinically in the previous weekend’s Scottish Cup semi-final – then again in Friday’s Masterton Trophy Final. However, fortunes changed decisively.

Peter Ross (80 not out) and Hayes van der Berg (50) propelled Heriot’s to 242 for seven in 46 overs.

Rain interruptions made the hosts’ target 224 in 40, but they collapsed to 174 all out.