Arbroath United Cricket Club

United with their mixture of third team and development players had Strathmore in early difficulties at 27 for 5 through Nicky Sim taking two wickets combined with two run outs and a wicket for Ross McLean.   Craig McDonald (23), Angus McCormack (17) and Drew Orr (30) saw Strathmore to 89 with Sim (3 for 18) returning to bowl Orr while both Craig Cameron and Ryan Plomer claimed two wickets.   In reply United lost Duncan Malpass in the fifth over with the total on 12 caught by Douglas Sayers from Fraser Couston’s bowling.   Gavin Swan and David Bridges moved the total to 38 before Swan was trapped lbw by McDonald.  Another two wickets quickly fell before Bridges and Bryce Carnegie added 30 for the fifth wicket which was ended when Carnegie was caught by Danny Sturrock from the bowling of  Hynes.   Gary Hewitson also claimed the wicket of Sim before Bridges (unbeaten 32) and Cameron saw United to a four wicket victory.

Result:  Arbroath United X1 won by 4 wickets.  (Friendly – 40 overs)

With the pitch at Largo being unplayable the fixture was switched to Lochlands.   United lost an early wicket in this development friendly before Duncan Malpass (31) and Craig Ramsay (19) took the total to 46 in the 14^th over when Stewart took a return catch to dismiss Ramsay.   Malpass and Nicky Sim (20) were both run out leaving United on 87 for 4 in the 24^th over, however there then followed a partnership of 54 between Ryan Plomer (35) and Diane Pedgrift (28) ended when the latter was caught by A. Shafique from the bowling of Scott, United closing on 157 for 6 from their 40 overs.   In response Zahoor and Z Shafique (34) had an opening partnership of 73 before the latter was caught by Ryan Plomer from the bowling of John Burnett in the 21^st over.  A further three wickets quickly fell, Matthew Swan (2 for 14), however in heavy rain Zahoor (51) went on to complete her half century before being stumped by Gavin Swan from the bowling of Ramsay (2 for 9) in the 36^th over.   Largo were dismissed in the 39^th over for 125, United winning by 32 runs.    The game was played in great spirit as the players endured the difficult conditions in the closing stages.

Result:  Arbroath United won by 32 runs.  (Friendly – 40 overs)

United won an entertaining friendly against the East league side by 55 runs.   Batting first Matthew Gove hit 59 (5 fours, 1 six) and with good support from Diane Pedgrift (28) and Simon Bailey (26) United reached 153 for 6 and in the closing stages Matthew Hurst hit an unbeaten 40 (3 fours 1 six) to allow United to close on 207 for 9 from their 40 overs.   When the Falkirk side batted United had them in early difficulties as they reached 52 for 5 however Mumtaz (80, 9 fours, 1 six) and Sajid (28, 5 fours) added 59 before Mumtaz was bowled by Greig Peal (3 for 12).  They were finally dismissed in the 32^nd over for 152 when Rehman was caught by Michael Elliott from the bowling of Hurst (3 for 18).

Result:  Arbroath United won by 55 runs.  (Friendly – 40 overs)

United were invited to play Aberdeenshire part of the home side’s profile which Sky Sports are following and had Ian Botham in attendance.   The match was in the form of a 20 overs match and Aberdeenshire started briskly through Todd Astle and Neil MacRae as they reached 38 in the sixth over before MacRae was bowled by Jamie Bowick.   Astle (53 from 34 balls) and Ian Brand continued to dominate and took the total to 107 in the 13^th over when Astle was caught by Greig Peal from the bowling of Peter Clarke.  Matthew Hays hit 25 from 9 balls (3 sixes 1 four) before he was caught by Clarke from the bowling of Chris Johnston (2 for 34) who claimed a second wicket when he had Carl Fraunstein caught by Mark Petrie with the total on 161 in the 17^th over.    Brand (52 from 36 balls) completed his half century before Peal and Johnston combined to run him out.  Peal had Mark Assiter caught by Johnston before Aberdeenshire closed on 185 for 6.   In reply Johnston hit 25 from 19 balls (4 fours) before he became the first of three victims for Tyler Buchan (3 for 18).    United were unable to get to the required run rate as Aberdeenshire used nine bowlers however a eighth wicket partnership of 26 between Ewan Rosie (18 from 11 balls) and Gavin Sinclair helped United to close on 122 for 9, United losing by 63 runs.

Result:  Arbroath United lost by 63 runs.  (Friendly – 20 overs)