Falkland Lose To League Leaders

Arbroath United (10) : 302 all out in 49.4 overs.
(H Laing 67, R McLean 48, C Watson 5 for 50, K Glen 2 for 33)

Falkland (0) : 174 all out in 48.0 overs.
(H Nawalage 56, M Surry 34, R Cameron 2 for 12, C Ramsay 2 for 30)

Arbroath United beat Falkland by 128 runs

Falkland's wretched League season continued with a 128 run defeat to League leaders Arbroath at Scroggie Park on Saturday, yet the annoying thing was that Falkland's total of 174 was a respectable one against the League leaders and might in other circumstances have been a winning one. The problem was that they had already shot themselves in the foot by conceding 302 in the first innings through another poor bowling performance which conceded 29 Wides and was not helped by a funereal Over rate. Admittedly there were one or two lost balls in the undergrowth, but that was not the only problem. A fast Over rate can put pressure on the batsmen and keep fielders on their toes.

Arbroath won the toss and chose to bat first, their best scorer in their large total being Hayden Laing with 67. Another 8 batsmen reached double figures, showing their strength in depth. Falkland's best bowler was Calum Watson who, after an uncertain and somewhat erratic start, came back strongly to clean bowl Laing and a couple of others, and pick up another two to finish with 5 for 50.

The total of 302 always did look too much for the home side, but they did at least make a fist of it and for a short spell when Cooray and Surry were in together, an unlikely victory looked possible. But when Cooray was bowled by Burnett, it was clear that Falkland were going to fall short, and the innings subsided tamely. Arbroath looked a good side and are in with a good chance of winning the Eastern Premier League.

It was another League defeat, yet there were a few positives for Falkland who have a young side, and a little more application could make things a lot better. A local derby at Glenrothes awaits next week.

David Potter