Cross continues in imperious form for Heriots

Mathew Cross continued in Bradmanesque form for Heriots in the Eastern Premier Division on Saturday, adding an unbeaten 200 against Arbroath United at Lochlands to his 171 not out against Stoneywood-Dyce the previous week.

Adding 262 for the second wicket with Hayes Van Der Berg, who made 116, Cross was in complete control. The three other Heriots batters who had the opportunity to take guard contributed only 13 between them to their side’s massive total of 344 for three. In all, Cross faced 162 deliveries and hit 18 fours and seven sixes, while Van Der Berg faced 110 balls.

Arbroath United compiled 181 in reply, Matthew Parker top-scoring with 38 before he was run out by Van der Berg. Mark Watt took three for 33 and Lloyd Brown three for 22 for Heriots.

The win propelled Heriots to the top of the table, since Forfarshire suffered their first defeat of the season at the hands of Carlton at Forthill.

Carlton’s total of 218 was built on an opening stand of 89 between Will Hardie (52) and Shujaa Khan (58) in which Khan was the more aggressive partner. Hardie saw the total through to 183 before, receiving relatively little support against a persistent Forfarshire attack, he was the seventh man out.

Jack Hogarth took three for 52 for the home side, with two wickets apiece for Michael Leask and Graeme Black.

Leask anchored the county’s reply with 50, but Ruaridh McIntyre claimed three for 27 for Carlton and Rory Allardice three for 26, as Forfarshire were dismissed for 157.

Grange stayed in second place on net run rate, shooting Meigle out for 74 at Victory Park and needing only 14.1 overs to make sure of a six-wicket victory. Gordon Goudie and Dylan Budge did the early damage, Goudie finishing with three for 22. Jamie Cairns then cleaned up, taking four for 27 to complete the rout.

Stewarts Melville secured their first win of the season in a hard-fought tussle with RH Corstorphine at Barnton, after the weather ensured that the match was reduced to 40 overs a side.

The home side reached 163 for eight, recovering from 39 for five thanks to a fighting 47 not out from Caleb Whitefoord. Stewarts Melville needed 38.5 overs to pull off a two-wicket victory in which Patrick Ritchie contributed an unbeaten 35. Robert Taylor took three for 19 for RH Corstorphine, but the winners made their task more difficult losing three wickets to run-outs as they edged towards their target.

At Peoples Park, Watsonians stayed in touch with the leading group with a convincing 142-run victory over Stoneywood-Dyce, despite having been 25 for five at one stage. Jamie King claimed four quick wickets at the start and finished with four for 24.

They were rescued by a stand of 119 for the sixth wicket between Andrew Chalmers (78) and Harry Shivmangal (55), smaller contributions from Callum Martin and Peter Maksimczyk enabling them to reach an imposing 243 for nine.

The home side could only manage 101 in reply, Maksimczyk the main wicket-taker with three for 32.

In the Western Premier Division Clydesdale maintained their unbeaten record with a 39-run win over West of Scotland at Titwood.

Clydesdale’s total of 218 was built on Craig Young’s knock of 81, with Gavin Smith claiming three for 38 for West and Anthony Hulatt three for 46. West of Scotland could only manage 179 for nine in reply, Ian Young top-scoring with 38. Danny Cairns took three for 25 for the winners.

The Titwood club’s nearest challengers, Stirling County and Prestwick kept up the pressure with victories over Poloc and Langside respectively.

A solid third-wicket stand between Aamir Shahzad (80) and Brandon McMullen enabled County to reach 256 at New Williamfield before they were all out, Imran Adrees taking four for 30 and Kess Sajjad three for 54 for Poloc.

But Callum James’s 57 wasn’t enough for the visitors, who were all out for 161 and lost by 95 runs.

A fine all-round effort from Muhammad Khan for Langside proved in vain against Prestwick at the Henry Thow Oval: he made 39 out of the Glasgow side’s total of 87. Jonny Hulme took four for 10 and Fraser Macdonald three for 18 to effect the collapse. Khan’s five for 16 with the ball was insufficient to prevent Prestwick from completing a four-wicket victory.

Uddingston continued their recovery from a dreadful start to the season with a seven-wicket defeat of Ferguslie at Meikleriggs. After they dismissed the home side for 159, Taimoor Ahmad contributing almost half the score with his 75, Muhammad Awais (41) and Gavin Bradley set Uddingston firmly on the road to victory, Bradley remaining to the end to finish with 70 not out.

A visit to Nunholm saw Greenock remain winless at the foot of the table, as they were bowled out for 179 in reply to a Dumfries total of 228 for nine.

Half-centuries by Scott Beveridge and Chris Brockwell were the basis of the Dumfries innings, and Brockwell then weighed in with four for 13 to tear the heart out of Greenock’s reply. Sam Sanghera also produced a fine allround effort in a losing cause, taking three for 46 for Greenock and making 32.

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