Ross on fire as Saints find their form

FORRES GOT their league form back on track with a convincing win over a depleted Buckie side on Saturday.

Buckie won the toss and decided to bat first, opening with Callum Hart and M. Widdrington.

The Forres bowlers, Derek Ross and Fraser Merricks, were into their stride straight away and kept the Buckie batsmen to just a couple of runs per over. Ross struck in the fifth over when Hart played on for 0, followed two overs later when new batsman Wood was sent back but not before Gerrard removed the bails after a throw from Arron Roberts.

This was quickly followed by Ross bowling Widdrington, who played the wrong line to a straight ball.

New batsmen Barry Newlands and A. Ballantyne had a lot of work to do, but the latter fell after only four balls, once more to Derek Ross, and Buckie were now 15 for 4. H. Raja demonstrated defence while Newlands played some shots but a quick single taken by Newlands found Raja unprepared and, as he ran to the strikers end, Fraser Merricks fumbled the ball before throwing it in to Gerrard and, inevitably, Raja was run out for 0.

Two runs later, Eadie Walls snicked the ball through to Gerrard, once again off Ross, beaten for pace. Finally, Newlands got a partner who could stick around while he scored some runs, Andy Brown playing his part in a 30 run partnership, taking Buckie from 24 for 6 to 54.

Brown was the fifth and final wicket for Ross, a leg stump yorker that rattled the timbers.

Stuart Plant joined his skipper at the crease, and once more a partnership which pushed the score up but he rode his luck as he was dropped three times but the partnership was finally broken when Newlands played all round a straight ball from change bowler Tony Farr for a very creditable 51.

Youngster Arnaf Mehta managed a quick single before he missed a delivery from Arron Roberts, followed next ball by Nathan Walls who popped the ball up gently for David Durance at silly point and Buckie were all out for 74. Derek Ross took the bowling honours with 5 for 28.

The Forres reply started with Nigel Gerrard and Fraser Merricks facing Hart and Newlands. Few demons for the batsmen to face and the score moved gently along with 30 off the first 10 overs.

Over twelve saw the only wicket to fall as Merricks took the ball off his toes and lofted it to Newlands at mid wicket off the bowling of Arnaf Mehta, having made 11. Neil McGrath came in to take the score past the winning mark with some positive shots including a big six over the leg side boundary. The 75 runs needed were reached in the 20th over with both Gerrard and McGrath finishing on 29 not out.

The league action continues on Saturday as Highland visit the Grant Park for a 1pm start.

• Forres cricketers also played Keith at the weekend in a cup match.

Keith were 89 all out off 27.3 overs

Graeme Dey scored 40; Fraser Merricks, Aaron Roberts, David Durance and Gus Farr for two wickets each

Forres 90 for 1 off 11 overs. Alasdair Farr got 56 not out and Gus Farr got 21 not out.