Fine Derek Ross batting secures victory for Forres St Lawrence cricket team over Ross County at Grant Park

Forres Saints took full points against Ross County on their visit to Grant Park on Saturday with a forceful bowling performance earning them a five wicket win.

The visitors had only ten players but a strong batting line up which got off to a good start with 21 off the first five overs.

The introduction of Angus Goldring into the attack paid dividends immediately, second ball of his spell he yorked Chris Blake who was beaten for pace.

Scott and Carney usually prosper as a batting pair but they were kept in check by some fine bowling from Goldring, backed up by Merricks at the other end.

Three overs together and Scott was trapped in front by Merricks for 20 and it wasn’t long before Toby Hardwick was castled by Merricks, leaving County on 31 for 3.

Carney was joined by Embleton but the latter was Merricks third victim of the day, another LBW, with only 13 runs added.

Carney was looking frustrated as he tried to make something happen whilst knowing that he was running out of batting partners.

The opening bowlers were replaced and the next pair joined in with the wickets, Barron striking twice in one over as he removed Harry Singh and then Carney who had managed only 11.

Gus Farr moved in to despatch the tail, bowling Hyslop and Fahid with pace then turning to spin to neatly catch Belli off his own bowling. County were all out for 74, Farr had the stand-out figures of 3 for 2.

The visitors decided to play a few tricks with their bowling, opening with two slow bowlers, Blake and Belli.

It certainly had the desired effect with Dhami launching the ball into the outfield and the waiting hands of Blake to gift Belli his wicket for a duck.

Magnus McGhee, coming in at three, was clearly confused and after a few tentative shots he gently popped the ball up to Singh at mid wicket with only three on the board.

With so few to chase it really was just a case of settling down and taking the runs as they came, rather than trying to force the pace, which Derek Ross did admirably and initially so too did Gus Farr.

Some good shots from Ross who is gaining confidence as a batsman, a huge six from Farr which perhaps gave him too much confidence as he went for a shot off Embleton which went through to bowl him for 16.

Still, Forres were reasonably comfortable at 40 for three and new batsman Frankie Du Toit settled in to play a busy innings with Ross.

On 65, just as the winning post was in sight, Ross was bowled by Singh for 23 followed quickly back in the hutch by Barron.

Merricks gave Du Toit the strike which he used to bag a couple of boundaries to close the innings, an unbeaten 17 for Du Toit - Forres happy to take the 5 wicket win.

This Saturday, Forres head to Elgin as the season is almost finished, a noon start in Cooper Park.