‘Sonians Run Halted by Forfs
Watsonians six game winning streak was brought to an abrupt halt on Saturday thanks in equal parts to a battling Forfarshire side and a vastly below par performance from the Myreside men.
If only the day had continued in the vain of the first 10 overs in which Paddy Sadler and Mike Legget were superb then a seventh successive victory may have been celebrated in the club rooms. Alas it was not to be. Although starting slowly and surviving the odd chance Forfs openers Wallace and Garden weathered the storm and then tucked into the scoring opportunities that began to be offered all to frequently by the change bowlers. However, in his second over Stuart Chalmers clean bowled Wallace and went on to take the next 3 wickets in rapid time including a beautiful delivery to remove visiting skipper Umair Mohammad first ball. Stubborn number 3 Michael Yellowlees fell LBW to Paxton and when Craig Wright struck, Forfs were in trouble at 95 for 6. At first the 7th wicket pair of professional Pickering and late call up Petrie found life difficult against the spinning ball but as time went on Watsonians allowed them to turn their somewhat suspect defence into attack. Some impatient and ill disciplined bowling combined with fielding which at times can only be described as abject allowed Forfarshire to put on 99 for the 7th wicket, Pickering making 53 and Petrie finishing 47 not out. Despite the efforts of Chalmers who took 4-25 from 8 overs and Sadler’s exemplary opening spell of 7 overs for just 11 runs Forfs scrambled their way to 203, a total that while still below par should never have been attainable from their heavily wounded position at the half way stage.
The Watsonian innings started brightly with James Easton pulling Pickering’s first delivery for four through mid wicket but the burley Australian answered back as Easton mistimed a pull playing one shot too many to again fall in the teens. Even with the early wicket, Easton’s early aggression left Watsonians with the upper hand. Pickering however, in his penultimate game for the visitors soon redressed the balance, removing Tim Weston caught behind and bowling Stuart Chalmers with one that kept low. Ryan Flannigan continuing his good form from the previous week, along with Wright set about knocking off the remaining runs but when Flannigan was run out for 51 having appeared to have easily made his ground and Wright skied a full toss from Mohammad, it was Forfarshire who were in the box seats. It was left to Paxton and Fleming to salvage things, they kept the rate in check and looked to have the situation under control until Fleming was well caught at mid-wicket targeting cow corner in Graeme Garden’s second over. Captain Paige then went early attempting a horrible cross batted heave only to see the bails go flying, and Sadler duly followed. Mike Legget came to the crease to forge what looked like a match winning last wicket stand but with only 6 required from 7 balls he drilled a delivery from Aman Bailwal straight back at the bowler who fielded the ball well and was able to break the stumps at the non-strikers end before Paxton, at that point not out on 33, could regain his ground.
Despite Forfarshire’s total appearing comfortably attainable, it was not in the batting where the game was lost, rather it was the bowling and fielding that were simply not up to the standards expected of a side placed second in the league that cost Watsonians on this occasion. With 9 games remaining, this slip up should serve as a reminder that nothing comes for free and there is still a long way to go.
