Cricket season is off to soggy start

Rain may have been the winner as the cricket season got off to a soggy start on Saturday, but Adam Ferguson reflected with satisfaction on Falkland’s return to the Eastern Premier division.

Like four of the five scheduled games, the Fifers’ Scroggie Park clash with Carlton failed to produce a result. However, skipper Ferguson saw enough in the play that did take place to give optimism for the weeks ahead.

His team first restricted a dangerous batting line-up to 192-5 and then, set a revised target of 182 from 25 overs, the batters were going well on 70-2 when conditions became unplayable.

Ferguson said: “We fought very hard in the first 25 overs and I was very proud of reducing Carlton to 100-5.

“But, as the rain came, a couple of their guys put away a few boundaries to get them up to 192 before the heavy rain started.

“We had to wait a good three and a half hours before getting back on and Euan Sloan and Lule Robertson were batting superbly well.

“We were ahead of the run-rate before it got too dangerous to carry on.

“There’s a lot to take from the game. I’m immensely proud of how the boys responded from pre-season against a top side like Carlton.

“We competed on so many points, but we need to continue to improve and put in displays to be competitive in this league.”

Elsewhere, Arbroath squandered a promising start to be bowled out for 143 against champions Heriot’s at Lochlands.

Ross McLean and Jack Plomer had posted 63 for the first wicket, but the introduction of Mark Watt changed the innings, the Scotland spinner soon trapping Plomer in front.

Plomer’s departure sparked a collapse that saw Arbroath plunge to 68-4 with McLean gone for a fine 40.

Only Craig Cameron of the remaining batters got going, the middle order man matching McLean’s tally and remaining unbeaten as Watt grabbed 5-26, taking the final three wickets in one over and allowing the players to head off early for one of the acknowledged treats on the circuit – a Lochlands tea!

Sadly, the rain arrived before play could resume.

Perhaps no team felt the frustration more than Forfarshire, who had restricted StoneywoodDyce to 156 at People’s Park and were motoring to likely victory on 100-2 when the inclement weather reached Aberdeen.

In the only game to beat the weather, Stewart’s Melville won the Edinburgh derby against Watsonians at Myreside thanks to a brilliant 87no from Ben Wilkinson.