Ramsay’s wickets help Arbroath to victory

Arbroath skipper Marc Petrie was content, if not ecstatic, after his side’s latest victory in pursuit of a second Eastern Premier title in three years.

A depleted Lochlands outfit duly prevailed against a Falkland side who were also hit by call-offs but the manner of their two-wicket success was underwhelming.

Having dismissed their rivals for just 82, Petrie would have liked to have seen his men get the job done a little more clinically but he said: “Although it wasn’t quite a vintage performance from ourselves, we’re happy to come away with the win and keep our unbeaten streak going.

“I thought we bowled very well throughout the innings and took advantage of a difficult wicket.”

To that extent Petrie was again thrilled with the contribution of Craig Ramsay, easily the division’s leading wicket-taker, who took his tally for the season to 33 with another four scalps.

He was aided again by fellow spinner Ross McLean, who claimed 3-5, and Petrie would not be surprised if the national selectors start showing a little interest in his star men.

It turned out to be a bowlers’ day as Falkland fought back impressively in the second half, Brook Ditchmen and Bruce Strachan also getting assistance from the Lochlands track to claim three wickets each during what proved to be a slightly jittery runchase for the home side.

While Arbroath were missing four players, Forfarshire were just as badly hit for their trip to face Stoneywood-Dyce at Peoples Park.

Not only were the Forthill side without Scotland duo Craig Wallace and Michael Leask but Ryan Watson, a man who scored centuries in his previous two league outings, was also marked absent.

However, ’Shire shrugged-off the loss to carve out an impressive 56-run win to stay in the top half of the table.

Matty Parker, leading the side in Wallace’s absence, played a captain’s knock to top-score with 48 and his opening stand with Rory Johnston, who made 41, set the visitors on course for a competitive total of 210-8.

There were three wickets each for Stoneywood’s Shaun Coetzer and Michael Louw but their bowling efforts were overshadowed by Umair Mohammed who took 4-27, while Graeme Beghin had 3-30 as the home batsmen were shackled.