Forres St Lawrence wrap up season with 186-run win to finish league runners-up
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Forres St Lawrence took 20 points from their last fixture of the season and secured runners up place in the league by defeating Highland by 186 runs on Saturday.
Batting first, Forres opened with Javed Aziz and Fazal Awa – a partnership that was broken on 16 when Aziz was caught at fine leg, trying to pull the ball. This gave Derek Ross the opportunity to get some time at the crease.
The field was still damp after heavy rain so the ball was not running, there was little value for the batters shots which was a shame as Awan played some delightful shots across the park.
Despite this, the field was pushed back and as it dried out Awan found the boundary regularly. On 66 Ross went for a big hit to leg and was bowled for 11, bringing Gus Farr to the crease and then the tempo picked up.
Awan found someone to run with and Highland were made to pay for having the field out. Awan and Farr put on 140 in 17 overs, a mixture of quick singles, dashing boundaries and some flashy sixes.
The partnership was finally broken when Awan threw caution to the wind and edged a wild swing through to the keeper, giving Highland some respite with 207 on the board.
A total of 106 from Awan had given Forres the start they wanted. Ellwood came in to add a few quick runs and Forres had posted 252 when Ellwood was caught by Raja, an excellent one-handed catch, for 15.
Another 20 runs and Farr was caught at long on for exactly 100 as Forres closed their innings on 277 for 6.
The Highland reply was a stuttering affair, with wickets falling regularly. Merricks and Ellwood took the new ball, Merricks struggling with his line early on.
Despite this Merricks struck first, trapping Ajjax leg before for a duck then Ellwood removed Raja, caught at mid on for 8.
A direct throw from Gus Farr at mid off saw the end of Karthikeyan then Moinul was bowled by Ellwood. Highland were 36 for 4.
A brief stand took the visitors to 51 then another collapse took three wickets. First Sudaran was caught off Barron, Gillani was caught behind off Lamb then Lamb trapped Sharma LBW leaving Highland at 53 for 7.
It seemed an age before the seventh wicket fell, so little action, but when Sai was bowled by Barron the tail fell away leaving Highland all out for 91.
