Forres in a demolition derby at Elgin

FORRES St Lawrence demolished Elgin at Cooper Park on Saturday in their last away game of the season, taking all 20 points by 2.30pm.

Elgin chose to bat first after winning the toss and found a Forres side in no mood to mess around after last weeks disaster. Matty Hewson opened the bowling for Forres with Gus Farr at the City end. A loose start from Hewson as he bowled a wide then got clipped for a trio of two’s by Alan Duncan but just as the home side were thinking they were going to enjoy the bowling Duncan slapped the ball to Gerrard at second slip. Matthew Hastie played out a maiden over with Zack Vale at the other end, then a short wide delivery from Farr gave Hastie the opportunity to cut for four. By now Hewson had got his radar on track and in his third over bowled Vale round his legs for four. Steve Parrott fell in the next over when Farr got one to move back across the batsman and he was bowled for 1. Elgin were now 21 for 3 which became 22 for 4 when Mark Patten walked down the wicket to Hewson, heaved across the line and was bowled off stump for 1. Thomas Cameron now joined Hastie who wasn’t having the problems the other batsmen clearly were but he got cramped slightly by Hewson and turned the ball round for Gus Farr to take a diving catch running in from square leg. Hastie’s 11 was his teams’ top score and he was the only batsman who looked comfortable. The rout continued as Cameron had his stumps up-rooted by Hewson for 2 and seven runs later Petrie, after scoring only the second 4 of the innings, played the ball to Al Farr at gully off Gus Farr. Al Farr took another catch when Dan Vale spooned a full toss from Hewson, giving the bowler his 6th wicket. Elgin youngsters made up the batting tail and it was no surprise when Mark Hindes was bowled by Hewson and then, when Huby was run out without facing a ball, Elgin were all out for 42. Matty Hewson had taken 7 for 25 whilst Gus Farr took 2 for 17.

There was no point in taking tea as only 15.3 overs were bowled so both teams agreed to turn around immediately. Pritpal Dhami and Steve Barron opened the batting for Forres and Dhami was not going to hang around. A four in the first over and a six in the next set the tone for his innings whilst Barron was supporting and it was as he was keeping the runs flowing that he was run out for 5. John Duff came in next, playing positively in his brief innings before the winning run came from a leg bye in the tenth over. A comprehensive victory for Forres with Dhami finishing with 26 not out, Duff 7 not out.

Next week Forres take on Ross County at Grant Park as the end of the season approaches.