Gary Heatly looks ahead to Sunday’s matches in the Challenge Cup and the Scottish Cup replays…
If the weather holds then it is shaping up to be a ‘Super Sunday’ of men’s Cup cricket in Scotland on July 11.
The Challenge Cup has reached the quarter-final stage with eight teams set to battle it out to make it through to the semi-finals.
There are also three Scottish Cup quarter-final replays to be played after they started but could not finish due to the rain that arrived in Scotland in mid-afternoon last Sunday.
The 2019 Challenge Cup winners Strathmore have had two walkovers so far in the event this year, but know they will face a tricky test against Kinross-shire at home on Sunday.
Before that match, the Forfar men face a big top of the table clash in the SPCU N-E Championship on Saturday when they travel to Freuchie.
“Being involved in two big matches like this in one weekend shows that the club is in a good place,” Strathmore first XI skipper Liam Sweeney said.
“The guys have been playing some good stuff in the league so far this summer and it has been pleasing to see players from the wider squad stepping up at times when others have been unavailable.
“With two games in two days coming up this weekend the wider squad will be utilised again, but everyone who is going to be involved in one or both of the games against Freuchie or Kinross-shire is looking forward to it.
“Having won the Challenge Cup two years ago we want to go as far as we can in the competition this year and we know Kinross-shire will be tough opponents.”
Elsewhere in the Challenge Cup last eight, Linlithgow host Glasgow Accies, Bon Accord make the long trip south to take on Morton and Hillhead are away at LOC Hire Stenhousemuir.
Meanwhile, Heriot’s are the only side currently through to the Scottish Cup last four and the 2019 winners will look on from afar with interest to see who joins them after the remaining quarter-final ties are played to a conclusion this Sunday.
Gen!us Grange had posted 218 all out and ion8 Forfarshire were 39-4 in reply when their tie was called to a halt at Portgower Place last week.
They will meet again at Forthill while Clydesdale and Langside will clash at Titwood. Last week, Langside’s 90-7 was playing 33-1 at Albert Park before the rain came.
Watsonians were on the cusp of victory at Drumpellier last week, 211 all out playing Drmpellier’s 48-7 at Langloan before the heavens opened.
That has given Drumpellier another chance though and they will travel to Myreside on Sunday.
Jonny Blackie is pictured bowling for Strathmore by David Gauton
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