Saints dig deep and make it three out of four

Forres’ Nigel Gerrard steers the ball through gully during the game against Elgin at Grant Park on Saturday.

FORRES St Lawrence had to dig deep to get a victory on Saturday against local rivals Elgin, but the effort was worth it when they finished with maximum points.

Winning the toss, Forres invited the visitors to bat first with Rick Wimble and Ewan McNeil opening against Derek Ross and Tony Farr.

Blustery conditions made bowling difficult, but the Forres pair stuck to their task against batsmen who were keen to push and run. The Elgin total was looking healthy at 21 off the first six overs before McNeil tried to loft the ball over the bowlers head but it held in the wind and Maclean ran over to take his first catch for Forres.

Sam Fairgrieve joined Wimble, and a couple of fours from the new batsman before he offered a neat catch for bowler Ross and Elgin were on 42 for 2. Wimble was joined by Andrew Hastie who was also keen to play his shots but he lost Wimble when he tried to hook a short ball from Ross but only managed to hit the ball on to his helmet, leaving wicket keeper Gerrard with a simple catch.

The 24 from Wimble had provided a foundation for his team, but they were unable to build on this as their skipper, Fraser, was run out for nought at the non-strikers end, trying to steal a run, then Hastie was bowled by Farr for 14, leaving Elgin on 61 for 5 after 18 overs.

A return to north cricket for Andrew Botley, who had to play senior partner to Zack Vale, whose inexperience was there for all to see. Botley played some good cricket shots despite his seven year break from the game, but Vale looked like a rabbit caught in the headlights.

However, Vale managed to stay around for several overs until he tried to swipe a delivery from change bowler Roberts, only to find Gus Farr at mid wicket and he was on his way for seven. Mark Gravener came in at a lowly 8 and he showed that he has more ability than that position, but when Botley was caught by Durance cutting a Roberts delivery, Gravener had a difficult task.

Alan Duncan hung around for a few overs until he missed a straight ball from Roberts and new batsman Hindes did exactly the same. The end came for Elgin when Gus Farr yorked Gravener for his team’s top score of 27 and Elgin were all out for 132. Roberts took 4 for 37, Derek Ross 3 for 30.

ENOUGH WAS ENOUGH

The Forres reply started with Nigel Gerrard and Al Farr taking the strike against Ewan McNeil and Andrew Hastie. Some wayward bowling from Hastie saw four wides in his first three overs, but he managed to strike first when he had Farr caught by McNeil at mid on for 11.

Gus Farr came in at three and the innings took its usual shape as Gerrard dug in at one end with Farr playing a more expansive innings and taking on the bowlers. The score moved steadily on, 27 off the first 10, 74 off the first 20 and, despite changing the bowlers, there was little on offer for Elgin.

The introduction of Wimble tightened things up at one end as he gave very little away with accurate bowling. The century arrived, but heralded the wicket of Farr when he played a lazy defensive shot and was bowled by Wimble for the day’s top score of 53. Neil McGrath should have been able to mop up the last runs with his skipper but he was soon on his way back to the pavilion when he was adjudged lbw to Hastie, which gave David Durance the opportunity to see his team home, but he lost his skipper almost immediately when he snicked a Wimble delivery through to keeper Gravener for a solid 26. Forres now looked becalmed until Tony Farr decided enough was enough and played a couple of strong shots to move the score along. But two maidens followed and once again Forres looked as if they would struggle to reach the target.

Again Farr took the initiative and struck the ball firmly over the boundary for four although at 122 for 4 his luck was out as he was given out caught behind off Hastie for 12. Jon Benn joined Durance who tried to take on the role of finisher only to see the ball fall into McNeil’s hands at mid off, once more off Hastie. So Andy Merricks and Jon Benn made the most of their opportunity and took their team past the Elgin total in the 39th over. Hastie finished with 4 for 31 and Wimble 2 for 14.

With three wins out of four, Forres travel to Fort William on Saturday looking to keep their form going.