Arbroath have emerged as the somewhat surprise early leaders of the Eastern Premier after fashioning a third straight victory of the campaign at the expense of winless Meigle.  The Lichties had too much depth with bat and ball for Meigle, running out winners by seven wickets in the Lochlands sunshine.

That result, combined with Grange’s 19-run defeat to champions Heriot’s, means it is the Angus club who boast the only 100% record in the division.

Marc Petrie, the former Scotland wicketkeeper/batter who was appointed club coach during the winter, is delighted with the start but acknowledges there is much hard work ahead. 

He said: “It was another fantastic performance from the lads and a comfortable win in the end. The excitement and determination amongst the group at the moment is clear to see and the hard work they put in is really showing in the results so far. 

“There are contributions coming from throughout the line-up which is particularly pleasing. Whilst we’re feeling confident, we know that each week we need to make sure we’re on top of our game to keep the run going.”

Having opted to bat first, Meigle were going along nicely on 122-2 before Alan Neave’s dogged knock of 49 from 107 deliveries was brought to an end when he was bowled by Cameron Brown.

Skipper Raju Gayashan and Zahid Rasheed also made it into the forties for the visitors, the latter smacking four maximums, but nobody was able to go on and make a major contribution while Craig Ross starred with the ball claiming 3-48 as Meigle were held to 212-9.

A confident batting display then saw Petrie’s side cruise to the target in just 27.5 overs, opener Craig Cameron leading the way with 76 from only 56 deliveries. There were also valuable contributions from Hayden Laing (45) and the consistent – and on this occasion expansive - Shouvik Chakraborthy who struck four sixes in racing to an unbeaten 21-ball 40.   

Petrie added: We’ll continue to take it game by game and our focus is now on Grange next week and the hard work will continue in training this week to ensure we do what we can to keep the momentum going.”

Having beaten Forfarshire and Stewarts Melville as well as Meigle, a stiffer challenge no doubt awaits when they visit Portgower Place especially since they will encounter a Grange team on the rebound from defeat to their fierce derby rivals.

Sent in to bat at Portgower Place, Heriot’s were in early difficulty when Will Hodgins struck twice to remove in-form openers Peter Ross and Lloyd Brown. However, the rebuild was patiently put together by Josh Elliott and Vian Maritz who gradually blunted a lively home attack.

Elliott was the aggressor, hitting seven boundaries in his 40 before being bowled by Louis Bennet while Maritz ground out a 111-ball 55. There were also good contributions from James Dickinson (31) and Dougie Voas (23) before a late flourish from Joe Kinghorn-Gray, who struck three maximums in his 17-ball 37, propelled Heriot’s to 266-9 – a fine recovery from the perils of 18-2.

Grange had just one run on the board when Gavin Main accounted for Calum Swanson. Fellow opener Jamie Crawley had some help from Angus Brown (27) and Charlie Peet (28) as the home side mounted their chase. However, substantial partnerships proved elusive, a series of cameos insufficient to give Crawley the backing he needed to put Heriot’s under pressure.

The opener went on to complete a fine century but when he was dismissed by Niall Alexander for 109 from 145 deliveries, Grange’s challenge was as good as over and they closed on 247-8.

RH Corstorphine opener Liam Naylor stepped-up his bid for inclusion in the Scotland squad for next month’s World Cup League 2 series with a second consecutive century as the Edinburgh club beat Falkland by 71 runs at Scroggie Park.  In-form Naylor hit 146 from 121 balls with fifteen boundaries and three maximums while George West contributed 88 to a hefty total of 337.

With 57 and 92 respectively, Jack Henderson and Kyle Jacobs looked capable of making a game of it but the Fifers lost wickets at key moments.

Forfarshire were unable to repeat the free-scoring form of a week earlier, shot out for just 140 at Carlton who went on to complete a comfortable 7-wicket win. Joe Newman claimed 4-20 and Matthew Kerr 3-33 as Stewarts Melville secured their first win of the campaign against Edinburgh South at Inch Park. Only two South batters made double figures, Adnan Mufti top-scoring with 55 as the home team were bundled out for 131.

Despite the early loss of Harry Armstrong, StewMel had few problems in reaching their target, Shaylen Pillay’s resolute 36no from 73 deliveries securing a 7-wicket success.

Western Premiership One champions Clydesdale preserved their 100% record with a ten-wicket Titwood trouncing of GHK while Stenhousemuir remain joint top after victory over Prestwick at The Tryst.