Capital sides dominated the first two Scottish Cup quarter-finals yesterday as Heriot’s and Watsonians prevailed at the expense of Forfarshire and Ayr.
At Goldenacre Heriot’s did the hard bit by restricting the normally free-scoring Forfarshire batsmen to just 165.
Former Scotland seamer Sean Weeraratna was the pick of the home bowlers with three key wickets including openers Craig Wallace and Callum Garden.
‘Shire’s main resistance came from skipper Umair Mohammed who hit a battling half-century.
Hayes van den Berg then led the reply with a hard-hitting 71 while James Hearn made 39 as the home side cruised to a six-wicket success.
Watsonians won by a similar margin after holding Ayr to a below-par 208-6 at Cambusdoon.
The home side never fully recovered from the loss of opners Michael Papps and Neil Smith in quick succession – both to Andy McKay – though skipper Andi McElnea fought valiantly for 70 while Matthew Crawshaw contributed 62 to a fourth wicket stand of 127.
However, the visiting bowlers stuck to their task before Mike Carson led the run-chase with a brilliant 96no as ‘Sonians won with fourteen overs to spare.
The match between Drumpellier and Grange was called-off yesterday morning due to overnight vandalism of the Langloan wicket while Poloc’s tie with Carlton had already been postponed to allow the home players to celebrate Eid.
Both games will go ahead next weekend.
Meanwhile Falkland bounced back from their Eastern Premier mauling at the hands of Watsonians to reach the last 16 of the British Village Cup.
The Fifers, on the end of a record 316-run defeat after conceding 440 runs on Saturday, managed to restrict Yorkshire outfit Staxton to just 129 at Scroggie Park.
Falkland’s batsmen then knocked off the runs for the loss of two wickets.
