Eastern Premier Cricket: Ford returns to boost toiling Forfarshire

By GARY HEATLY
Published on 18/08/2012 03:42

Key batsman Brendan Ford returns to the Forfarshire line-up as they head to Heriot’s in the Cricket Scotland Eastern Premier Division this afternoon looking for a much-needed win to get them off the bottom of the table.

The Broughty Ferry men go into the last three weeks of the regionalised campaign without a league victory to their name since 26 May.

Indeed that one was against second-bottom Arbroath and skipper Craig Wallace and his side know they will need to be on their game to claim victory at Goldenacre, especially with the Edinburgh side also having a Scottish Cup semi-final 24 hours later to get in-form for.

Certainly the return of Australian Ford, who has scored over 350 runs this summer, will help after he missed last week’s loss to Grange while Scott Cameron, Tim Hancock and Liam Sweeney also come in.

Fellow strugglers Arbroath are also in the capital today and could not have a tougher test with them up against leaders Grange. The match is due to be played at Portgower Place which has been flooded for much of the summer, but has been made playable by hard work by Lee Spendlove and his groundstaff.

Grange have spinner Andrew Brock and teenager Duncan Player back in the starting XI for this one with Will Edwards in the twos and Stuart Davidson unavailable.

Watsonians, in second place, know that they must win against Stoneywood-Dyce at Myreside to keep the pressure on Grange.

Stoneywood-Dyce travel south comfortably in mid-table and after a 130-run victory over Arbroath seven days ago.

Last year’s national champions Carlton are in third and will still have a say in where the East title goes as they take on Grange on the last day.

Today they make the trip north to sixth-placed Aberdeenshire on the back of a win over Watsonians and last Sunday’s Murgitroyd national Twenty20 event triumph at Poloc.