Arbroath United suffered a narrow five run loss against Sterling County CC in their Scottish National League North Division season opener in Dundee over the weekend.

Arbroath's Bermudian, Treadwell Gibbons Jr, failed for the first time out in the middle with the willow, edging a rising delivery into the slips to be dismissed for seven.

It was the first time since arriving in Scotland Gibbons had been dismissed for less than double digits.

Batting first, Sterling mustered 112 runs in 40 overs, leaving the visiting team what should have been a modest run chase. Tight bowling and a notoriously dampened pitch, however, tormented Arbroath's batsmen who could only reply with 107 runs in 45 overs.

Speaking from the UK, Gibbons lamented: “That was the worst wicket I have ever played on in my life. It was soft and you couldn't really do anything with the ball.

“Whenever the ball hit the pitch it left dents in it. You never knew what the ball was going to do.”

Gibbons edged a catch behind from a delivery that suddenly “popped” up from what appeared to be a good length.

“I played a forward defensive shot,” he explained. “The ball just popped up and hit the top edge of the bat and went straight to slips.

“The calibre of play was at a high level but the wicket was not. And nobody was happy to lose the match afterwards.”

Prior to last Saturday's loss, Gibbons stroked a patient 31 runs during Arbroath's seven-wicket away win over Fort Hill CC and 43 on his debut match in the UK last month.

The Western Stars and Under 19 national team cricketer has been recruited as Arbroath's sole amateur player for the next six months.