Plenty of runs at Fochabers

THE top of the table clash between Forres St Lawrence and Fochabers lived up to its billing with plenty of runs to entertain the visitors to Castle Park on Speyside.

After winning the toss, the home skipper asked Forres to bat first and reaped the reward when Dhami was out in the first over, bowled by A Mehta. Opener Derek Ross had to work with Fraser Merricks to create the foundation of the innings while keeping the Fochabers bowlers out. Both batsmen were cautious, even watchful, but just when it seemed that Merricks was settling by playing a couple of shots he nicked one behind to the keeper off A Mehta. 26 for 2, with Dhami and Merricks back in the hutch, was not a great position for Forres so Gus Farr needed to stick with Ross if their side was to set a challenging total. A change of bowling brought some relief when Mehta was replaced by Paul Bijl whilst Valentine was replaced by Adam Stockwell. Ross and Farr dug deep and kept the score moving along, watching for the bad ball as well as taking singles. As the partnership grew the batsmen pushed the fielders, upping the run rate. The 20th over saw the score pass 65 and Fochabers changed their bowling round again as Forres had a fruitful few overs. But just as the partnership was looking toward the century, Ross was given LBW to M Stockwell for an excellent and well paced 41. Farr was now joined by David Durance who never really looked in any form. Farr was now batting smoothly, taking the strike, quite able to cope with any tricks the Fochabers bowlers might be planning. The century was passed in the 31st over and soon it would be the time to press the accelerator. Durance tried to find scoring shots but he just couldn’t move past the singles and by the time he gave up his wicket, bowled by A Mehta for 13, Forres were in the 39th over and just approaching the 150 mark. Al Farr was sent in to have a go but was bowled for 2 by M Stockwell, leaving skipper for the day Neil McGrath enough time to help Gus Farr to maximise the score. 40 came off the last 5 overs as both batsmen ran hard and pressured the fielders. When the close came Forres had set 191 to win, with Farr making an unbeaten 95.

On a good batting track the target set was achievable but the Forres bowling attack is no mean thing. M Stockwell and S Henderson opened against Fraser Merricks and Dave Durance. Henderson played some pleasing shots and found the boundary with a couple of fours, Stockwell was allowed to run singles. In the tenth over and with thirty on the board Henderson misread the line of a Durance delivery and nicked the ball to Al Farr in slips for 17. A Mehta replaced Henderson and was keen to run quick singles and before long Stockwell was blowing. A couple of overs without scoring put pressure on him bringing about his attempt to blast a Merricks delivery but the bowlers sharp reactions saw him take the catch and Stockwell was on his way for 19. Now M Mehta joined his son, getting off the mark with a four but Forres changed the bowling, bringing Pritpal Dhami on to bowl spin. Mehta senior struggled with this as Dhami started to get grip. The run rate slowed slightly, Mehta senior came down with an injury and finally Dhami found the breakthrough as he bowled M Mehta for 22. Chris Priddle lasted just five balls before he was bowled by Gus Farr bringing Gordon Sharp to join Mehta junior. The runs had started to dry up and the pressure was now on Mehta if Fochabers were to get to their target. The mistake came when Mehta, who was on 22, went to pull a Dhami delivery, but bottom edged onto his thigh and sent the ball through to McGrath behind the sticks. Now Fochabers were behind the run rate and were losing wickets, Forres went to turn the screw again. Sharp swiped across the line of a Dhami delivery and was bowled for 3 whilst Constable pressed forward and got an edge through to McGrath off Dhami. Adam Stockwell and Liz Priddle showed the most adventure in their batting, adding 51 runs in their partnership and whilst the innings closed only 21 runs behind Forres, in truth it had long since ceased to be a contest. Dhami took 4 for 40, proving he is a danger on a grass wicket.

Next week Forres travel east to Linzee Gordon Park in Buckie.