Cricket: Great games grace the new league format

Published on 25/07/2012 02:20

Many club cricketers remain unconvinced by the rationale of a month-long, mid-season CS league break. But what isn’t in doubt is the reconstituted league’s continuing capacity to engage and enthrall. Take last Saturday’s Eastern Premier derby clash at Grange Loan. Heriot’s were seemingly down and out with just one wicket left, still requiring 12 from 10 balls, only for Scotland under-19 player Peter Ross to keep his nerve and see off fancied Carlton with a winning boundary from the penultimate ball.

Meanwhile, visiting Watsonians also left it late at Forthill, a superb undefeated 71 from Scotland cap Ewan Chalmers finally thwarting Forfarshire with just two wickets and four balls remaining.

In the West, Premier basement boys Drumpellier confounded the pundits and favoured Uddingston alike at Bothwell by coming from well behind, needing more than seven an over at one stage with wickets falling, to forge an improbable Lanarkshire derby win by four wickets in the penultimate over, propelled by a swashbuckling, undefeated 45 from skipper Graeme McLaren.

There was joy, too, for the other bottom club in the West, First Division Kelburne, who shocked leaders Ferguslie at Meikleriggs, strolling home eventually by eight wickets.

Much-vaunted West Premier frontrunners West of Scotland were plummeting two places down the table at home courtesy of hitherto unfancied, Craig Thyssen-rejuvenated Ayr. Five fantastic matches and three cheers for the revamped league structure.