Watson piles on the runs as Falkland get a welcome victory

Falkland batsman Graeme Watson expressed delight after his team eased past Arbroath to secure a first win since the club returned to the Eastern Premier Cricket League.

The Fifers went into the Scroggie Park clash having suffered a couple of heavy defeats in their first top-flight campaign for five years.

However, they came good with a comprehensive 84-run win in which Watson contributed a valuable 43 and young Australian Charlie Cassell 48 before Logan Briggs and Greg Chambers had three wickets each to send Arbroath crashing to a third straight defeat.

Watson, also the club vice-president, said: “We’re really pleased to get on the board with a win. It’s been a step up for us but we have shown signs that we will compete at this level and I thought we put a few things together today.

“We were probably 20/30 light with the bat but we backed ourselves, defended well and took regular wickets.

“It’s a great credit to our junior development that the team had nine players who learned their cricket at Falkland.”

With Sri Lankan Harsha Cooray soon to arrive, there is cause for optimism at Falkland while Arbroath will clearly benefit from the addition of South African international Wihan Lubbe who awaits visa clearance.

The Lochlands side were all out for 124, Jack Plomer top-scoring with 25 while 14-year-old Luke Hayes offered greater resistance than more experienced team-mates, surviving 50 deliveries for his 13.

Visiting captain Bryce Carnegie said: “We beat ourselves with five dropped catches costing around 90 runs. Batting wasn’t much better but our lower order showed great resolve – it was a great effort from Luke who batted very well.”

Meanwhile, there was major disappointment for Forfarshire who slumped to a surprise 40run defeat against RH Corstorphine at Forthill.

Shire were going for a third win in a row and they looked on course after bowling their opponents out for 226, Bryce Allchin claiming 4-42 while Australian debutant Jack O’neill impressed with 3-30.

However, the home side’s powerful batting line-up failed to fire with only Rory Johnston earning pass marks, the opener batting through the innings but being left stranded on 62no as his team-mates came and went without offering sustained support.

Scott Cameron, Shire’s captain, said: “We bowled well to keep them to that score but just didn’t bat well enough to get over the line. Someone to stay with Rory was needed and just a little partnership would have done the job.”

Elsewhere, Grange had a thrilling two-run win at Stoneywood-dyce while Heriot’s and Carlton both had eight-wicket derby victories against Stewart’s Melville and Watsonians respectively.

Forfarshire’s Bryce Allchin took four wickets.