Dhami puts Forres in driving seat

Another scorching innings from Pritpal Dhami steered Forres St Lawrence to a big win against neighbours Nairn at the Links on Saturday, getting their North of Scotland Cricket Association season back on track as the second half gets under way.

Losing the toss, Forres were asked to bat first with the opening pair of Dhami and Derek Ross settling in against the Nairn attack. Stephen Neill got some bounce from the Nairn artificial track and bowled a good length, but Alex Green was wayward, offering little to worry the batsmen. The outfield was quite long so the ball was not running well, shots which should have sped off for four were struggling to go for two, but the batsmen persevered even when Green was replaced by Neil Gibson’s solid line and length.

And it was Gibson who got the breakthrough as Ross played over a straight ball and was bowled for 13. Gus Farr joined Dhami with 46 on the board, Farr giving himself time to get into the game but it was Dhami who was making the scoring shots.

The hundred came up in the 26th over and with that the scoring rate increased as the field spread out to stem Dhami’s shots. Singles came easily now, then a flurry of boundaries and a quick three from Dhami brought Farr on to strike, who played down the wrong line to Gibson and heard the timbers rattle for 33.

A partnership of 101 was a good foundation for Forres, a good position for Neil McGrath to come in to.

McGrath played sensibly, allowing Dhami to take strike and the next four overs brought 65 runs. The scoreboard was almost struggling to keep up but finally a change of bowling bought the wicket of Dhami when he gloved the ball round the corner to the keeper off Tom Green and Forres were 228 for 3.

Another huge innings from Dhami who had scored 154 in a patient and well developed innings.

A brief visit to the crease from Calvin Charles before he swung wildly and was stumped off Green for 2. Neil McGrath struck out and made a quick-fire 24 before he too was caught behind off Green. Al Farr stuck around longer than Dave Durance, finishing the innings with John Duff who matched Farr with 18 not out as the overs ran out and the Saints closed on 288 for 6. Tom Green had the figures of 4 for 53 off his 4 overs.

The total set by Forres was always going to be way beyond the Nairn batsmen and things were not made any easier when Gus Farr removed first Ledsham and then A. Green in the third over.

A. Macleod stuck around long enough to strike a couple of fours before he too was on his way back after he was yorked by Farr. A string of maidens from Farr were matched by tight bowling from John Duff, who removed Stephen Neill for 0. All this time, the opener Neil Gibson had been batting defiantly but without troubling the fielders, but he lost P. Gerring with 23 on the board and things looked bleak for the home side.

A glimmer of defiance came with Ian Macleod partnering Gibson, this pair stuck around for 17 overs and whilst they only made 31 they certainly gave the visitors a headache as Forres tried to winkle them out.

It came down to Neil McGrath turning his arm over to get the breakthough although it was a run out that got the wicket.

The throw from Gus Farr found Macleod out of his ground. Then 54 for 6 quickly turned into 59 all out as McGrath added two more wickets to his figures and Nairn collapsed well short of any challenge. Gus Farr finished with 3 for 10, John Duff 2 for 16 and Neil McGrath 2 for 1. Neil Gibson was 22 not out.

On Saturday Forres are scheduled to be at home to Highland who had to scratch their game on Saturday due to lack of players.