Carlton closing in on first top-flight title

Omer Ahmad, with five wickets, and Cedric English, who scored a half-century, were the Edinburgh side’s match-winners, while Arbroath lost to Aberdeenshire at Lochlands.

Victory over Aberdeenshire on Saturday will crown Carlton Premiership champions

Chasing 179 for victory, Carlton suffered an early loss when Aravind Srinivasan was caught behind off Graham Quinn in the second over. The tally, aided by a string of wides, had moved to 31 when the introduction of Andy Wallace brought further success.

Preston Mommsen, the Saltires batsman, had been stout in defence but had made just four when he misjudged a delivery that took out off-stump.

Wallace produced a carbon copy to remove stand-in skipper Stevie Gilmour and, at 44-3, the Edinburgh side were wavering.

Gordon Drummond, the Scotland captain, announced his arrival by hoisting Wallace over wide long-on for six, only to be lured into Ryan Watson’s trap by picking out the short mid-on fielder to depart for 18.

Nick Hunt also departed as Forfarshire continued to chip away but it was to prove their final success as English proved too tough a nut to crack. The former Saltires batsman at times rode his luck but he also played typically attractive shots on his way to an unbeaten 72.

Earlier, Forfarshire’s batsmen found it tough going against a Carlton side who were on their toes from the start. Tight bowling, allied to smart fielding, served to increase the pressure though the home players did contribute to their own downfall with rash shots.

Graeme Garden was first to go when he hoisted Mommsen’s delivery into the deep, and Gilmour held onto a good catch.

Omer Ahmad, one of the Grange Loan club’s less heralded players, then took centre stage to put his side firmly in control. In an uninterrupted ten-over spell, he claimed five wickets for just 20 runs as Forfarshire were reduced to 72-6. His first scalp was the prized one of former Scotland captain Watson who, like Garden, failed to clear the in-field and found himself caught by Srinivasan.

Scott Galloway was in single figures when he, too, took the aerial route and went for seven.

Brendan Ford, having shown promise in making 21, was Ahmad’s next victim, while Craig Wallace and Umair Mohammed completed the bowler’s haul.

Forfarshire finally found a partnership of substance when Tony Weed and Tim Hancock came together, the pair adding 83 for the seventh wicket. But Hancock’s departure signalled the end as the Forthill men subsided to 178, having failed to use up four overs.

Meanwhile, at Lochlands, Gerry Strydom scored 144no as Aberdeenshire put a huge dent in Arbroath’s title hopes, cruising past their 241-7 with eight wickets and two overs in hand.