Ross County get revenge over Northern Counties
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Turnabout proved to be fair play for Ross County as they got their revenge from the previous week’s Twenty/20 defeat to thrash Northern Counties in league action.
The Inverness side had been looking to make it two wins in as many weeks in Strathpeffer, having won by 70 runs in the shortest format of the game.
But instead the Castle Leod outfit roared back in style to inflict a first league defeat of the season on Counties.
The momentum went against the Inverness side, who were batting first, from the very beginning of the innings.
Counties’ top order – Jamie Rodgers, David Dugdale and Rich Smith at one, two and three respectively – were dismissed for a collective nine runs, putting the visitors on the back foot at Castle Leod.
Alan Amour came on and starred with the ball for the hosts, ripping through the mid-to-lower order, taking 5-17 as Counties were bowled out for just 60.
Wicket keeper William Ford was the sole source of resistance, hitting 22 not out before he ran out of partners at the other end.
County quickly went about getting the runs needed to win.
And they would do exactly that in emphatic style as opening batsmen Duncan Scott and Chris Blake survived through to the end.
Scott and Blake scored 28 and 26 respectively as the hosts clinched a one-sided 10 wicket victory.
Such a dominant win saw Ross County leapfrog Counties into second in the league table, only behind Highland.
The league leaders are now the only undefeated team in the division, boasting a 100 per cent record as they bid to win the NoSCA title for the first time in nine years.
They kept their winning streak alive last weekend when they hosted mid-table Fort William at Fraser Park.
As was so often the case last season, Highland’s bowling strength was key to the result, digging them out of a hole after they were dismissed for 114 in the opening innings.
That was a competitive total, especially with the club’s track record of bowling for victory in the second innings.
And Highland’s bowlers proved their worth once again with the ball in hand by skittling Fort William out for 81.
Nairn County also put 20 points on the board with a 55-run win over Elgin, while Buckie beat Elgin by 53 runs.
