Dornoch cricketers show ‘real heart’ to secure historic victory over Ross County 2nd XI in north league debut
Dornoch Cricket Club made a winning return to competitive league cricket on Sunday with a 31-run victory over Ross County 2nd XI at Castle Leod in their opening North of Scotland development league fixture.
Chairman Matt Millward praised the team for showing “real heart” after the club completed their first organised league match in 28 years.
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The Sutherland visitors fielded a side representing seven nations — Scotland, England, Australia, Kenya, Pakistan, India and Malta — highlighting the club’s growing reach across the Highlands since their 2022 revival.
In damp and breezy conditions at Strathpeffer, Dornoch were asked to bat first after losing the toss.
Openers Stuart Tode and Romal Shah made a steady start, moving the score to 38 before Tode was caught for 13 off the bowling of veteran spinner Howard Tolliday.
Shah followed soon after, trapped LBW for 14.
Cameron Hook (23) and captain Chris Schleter (27) added useful runs, building the total to 95 for 2 before a sharp collapse saw four wickets fall for just 13 runs.
Kal Baigh was stumped for one, and both Schleter and Millward fell in quick succession as the innings faltered.
Colin Fraser and Phil Scott rebuilt with a valuable lower-order partnership. Ross County’s bowlers struggled for consistency, conceding 50 extras, which helped Dornoch reach 143 all out.
Ross County’s rain-affected reply never gathered momentum.
Phil Scott set the tone early, bowling with accuracy to finish with one for 11 from four overs, including the wicket of Bilal Akbar LBW.
Millward then produced the match-defining spell.
Bowling unchanged, he returned figures of four for 12 from eight overs, including a maiden.
Opener Jeewantha Kaluarachi was taken leg before, and Richie Hobbs taken for a golden duck with a catch by Shah.
Zikria Khan was then clean bowled for two and Jawad Amiri went for four, caught by Fraser.
A pair of wickets for both Fraser and Schleter ensured that County were never able to establish a rhythm and fell short of the total, all out for 112.
Speaking after the match, chairman Millward said: “I’m incredibly proud of the team today — we showed real heart, stuck to our game plan, and got the result we deserved.
“Every single player stepped up, and it’s a huge win for Dornoch. We’ll enjoy this one, but we’re already focused on building from here.”
Dornoch will look to build on their strong start when they host high flying Huntly in their next league fixture at The Meadows on Saturday May 18.
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