Falkland Lose Out to Forfarshire

Forfarshire 179 all out in 34.4 Overs
(R Johnston 63, H Cooray 5 for 33, C Cassell 3 for 61)

Falkland 151 all out in 44.5 Overs
(H Cooray 48, C Cassell 33 At Forthill on Saturday 16 July.

Falkland 1st XI Lost by 28 runs

In tune with the rest of this fine summer, the weather in Broughty Ferry was splendid (possibly just a shade too hot) as Forfarshire won the toss and decided to bat. Short of several players who were off on holiday, the innings of the local side was rather unbalanced, as first Wallace, Johnston and Sim took advantage of good batting conditions to take them to 136 for 3 at the half way stage. But then a collapse followed, and 10 Overs later, they were all out for 179 with Harsha Cooray taking 5 for 33, and Falkland deserving credit for bowling and fielding well.

179 did not look all that huge a total on such a placid surface and fast outfield as Forthill was, but wickets fell regularly, sometimes to injudicious shots and sometimes to lbw decisions that did not meet with universal agreement. But the sad fact was that Falkland finished 28 runs short, dismissed for 151 when at one point they were going well at 100 for 5, and only Cooray and Cassell made scores that were in any way reasonable. Once again Falkland's unfortunate ability to snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory, a trait that we have seen rather too often this season, reasserted itself. Ironically, Falkland's last two wickets fell to Ryan Watson, one time stalwart and professional of Falkland, now in the twilight of his career and making a rare appearance for Forfarshire.

This defeat, after two very good results means now that although Falkland remain well ahead of Arbroath at the bottom of the table, another defeat at Lochlands next Saturday would give Arbroath, who won at Stoneywood-Dyce, some hope of catching us. A win on the other hand would probably guarantee safety.

DP