Double could be on the cards as Dundee head to Aberdeen

Going into the second half of the Strathmore and Perthshire NEC, it should have been possible to speculate how this week’s opponents might fare based on the opening day.

Dundee now travel to Mannofield, they go in the knowledge they are third in the table and their opponents Aberdeen are third from bottom.

Last week Dundee beat Forfarshire II by 82 runs while Mannofield managed only 132 against Strathmore who lost only one wicket.

With the threat of Majid Rasheed and Rashin Upamal, a double could be on the cards for Dundee.

Arbroath United made heavy weather of their win against Kinloch at Station Park last week, but they could get a much-needed boost as they host a Falkland outfit that pulled off the first real shock of the season with an 85-run win over ASI Gordonians thanks to a massive 146 by Harsha Cooray.

Falkland pose a batting threat a fair way down the order and showed their bowling strength last week as Cooray gave away only seven runs in five overs and Darren Pearce and Lyle Robertson mopped up.

Arbroath will have their work cut out to add to their two league wins.

Falkland beat Freuchie to reach the Fife Cup final with Lyle Robertson’s unbeaten 78 the clincher.

Kinloch came within two wickets of a result against Arbroath last week, so a visit to a Perth outfit that could muster only 115 runs in losing to Meigle could give them a chance of breaking their league duck.

It looks less likely Forfarshire II will collect their first win as they travel to take on an ASI Gordonians side that will be smarting from losing their unbeaten run last week.

While Forfarshire are unlikely to face the same sort of hostility that reduced them to a scary 40 all out against Dundee HSFP with Majid Rasheed in unplayable form, the threat from Aman Arora, Swapnil Rane and Chamila Perera is likely to undo the visitors.

Strathmore at home to league leaders Meigle could be a tasty one with the battle between Strathmore’s on-form bowler Alan Neave, who rattled out the top four Perth Doocot batsmen last week, up against a solid Meigle batting line-up setting up a prospect to relish.