The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Eight-wicket haul in shock cup win
Arbroath pace bowler Keegan Crawford claimed a sensational eight-wicket haul as the Strathmore and Perthshire Union cricket outfit pulled off a Scottish Cup shock with an easy win against RH Corstorphine at Lochlands yesterday.
Crawford’s amazing 8-20 figures sent the Eastern Premier side crashing to 43 all out in just 17.3 overs.
Six of the South African seamer’s victims were clean-bowled with the other two caught behind by keeper Marc Petrie while only one batter made it into double figures.
Earlier, Crawford had also starred with the bat, hitting 31 from only 17 deliveries to provide late acceleration after Pranav Saravanan (30) and Darryl Sinclair (44) had made valuable contributions to Arbroath’s total of 191-9.
Elsewhere, a stunning century from Meigle’s Tiaan Brits proved in vain as seven-time cup winners Clydesdale survived a scare at Titwood.
Opener Brits carried his bat for a superb 171no with 13 boundaries and five maximums to propel the underdogs to 244-9.
However, Scotland skipper Richie Berrington stroked a composed 98no to steer Dale to a fourwicket win though the Meigle bowlers contributed to their own downfall by conceding no fewer than 52 extras, including 31 wides.
Holders Forfarshire completed a fine weekend to claim their place in the next round.
Needing just 158 against Watsonian at Forthill, Shire were cruising on 84-0 before the visitors hit back to claim five quick wickets.
However, Scotland star Craig Wallace steered his team home with 46no after Rory Johnston had topscored with 60 including twelve boundaries.
Earlier, Bryce Allchin claimed 5-25 and Michael Leask 3-22 as Sonians slumped to 157 all out, Andrew Chalmers topscoring with 59no.
Meanwhile, Michael
Leask blazed his way to the highest individual score of the season as Forfarshire also posted the best Eastern Premier team total so far in a convincing 137-run win over Stewart’s Melville at Inverleith on Saturday.
Scotland star Leask was in imperious form in making a superb 139 from 102 balls, flaying the home attack to all corners of the ground.
Leask came to the crease with the score on 96-2 after openers Rory Johnston and Craig Wallace had given Shire a solid start with 54 and 26 respectively.
He shared a century stand with Jack O’neill, who made 45, and watched Callum Garden and skipper Scott Cameron depart in quick succession before opening out to dominate another century partnership, this time with Lyle Robertson.
Leask stroked an astonishing 16 boundaries and six maximums and had put his team on course for
their huge total before misjudging a delivery from Connor Shorten to see his stumps shattered.
Robertson, in the shadow of Leask for much of his stay, went on to finish unbeaten on 35 from 41 deliveries as the Forthill side reached an impregnable 333-7.
The Stewmel batters were up against it from the start, though Riyaad Henry and Shaylen Pillay showed some resistance with 36 and 62 respectively.
However, man-of-themoment Leask removed the former before Cameron joined the attack to trap Pillay in front, the skipper going on to complete an emphatic triumph with 4-32.
Elsewhere, Falkland were on the receiving end of another big total, champions Heriot’s posting exactly 300-6 at Goldenacre en route to a 103-run win.
Home captain Lloyd Brown was the Fifers’
tormentor-in-chief with a brilliant 136no, while Kyle Jacobs claimed 5-55 for the visitors.
Skipper Jack Henderson hit 58 – his second consecutive half-century – while Jeremy Martins made 40 and Jacobs 38 as Falkland refused to throw in the towel.
However, Scotland pace bowler Adrian Neill had the final say with 4-15.
There was also disappointment for Meigle who came up against another Scotland star in form, Brandon Mcmullen hitting a superb 111no from only 81 balls to put RH Corstorphine in charge at Victory Park.
Mcmullen had support from Anthony Dunford, who contributed 69 to the visitors’ total of 283-4.
Meigle had little to offer in reply, Sami Ejaz topscoring with 28 in a disappointing total of 131, while Calum Clarkson claimed 4-22 for the Edinburgh team.