Cricket: Sonians out to beat Grange for third time

Published on Friday 31 July 2009 10:02

WATSONIANS head to Raeburn Place tomorrow in cricket's SNCL Premier Division looking to put a spanner in the works of Grange's title charge by beating them for the third time this summer.

The Myreside men are one of only three teams to have beaten Sanjay Patel's men in 2009 along with Aberdeenshire – who triumphed in both the league and Scottish Cup – and Uddingston.

'Sonians defeated their Capital rivals twice in a two-week spell earlier in the season. In the league they thumped them by 182 runs at Myreside and then won the Murgitroyd Masterton Trophy second round clash between the two in Stockbridge.

However, Watsonians batsman James Easton knows it will be difficult to complete the hat-trick against a side who are looking for their third title in four years and who have won their last three league outings. Easton, who top scored with 53 as his side defeated Uddingston last weekend, said: "We certainly go into the game confident after getting a good win last weekend.

"I don't think the previous games with Grange will influence Saturday's encounter, but it is good to know that you have beaten your opponents before.

"Grange are a quality side, sit at the top of the table and are on a decent run of form so I would imagine it will be a tough one for us. Having said that we aren't a bad side either though so it should be a decent contest if both sides perform on the day."

Last Saturday Easton looked set to guide his side to a comfortable win over Uddingston at Myreside with his first 50 of the season.

That was until the team, who are still in danger of finishing in the bottom two, lost four wickets in four balls as well as Dwayne Batchelor to a hamstring injury.

"The last few overs were an emotional rollercoaster. I was really angry with myself for not getting us all the way through to Uddingston's total.

"We still only needed five runs once I was out, but then we lost the wickets and still needed five runs.

"Suddenly you have that hollow feeling where you can't believe what you're watching, but thankfully (captain] Steve Paige got us home with a ball to spare," he explained.

The injury sustained by South African all-rounder Batchelor in that frantic run chase could keep him out for the rest of the season and Andy Learmonth replaces him in tomorrow's side.

George Cairns also takes Euan Stubbs' wicketkeeper spot with the latter unavailable.

The home side are yet to finalise their side, but with Giles Holmes back it will be a tough call regarding who they leave out. Injured wicketkeeper Simon Smith is due to have a shoulder operation in Glasgow today.

Elsewhere in the Premier Division tomorrow Heriot's captain Steve Knox will have a late fitness test to see whether he can return to the fold against West of Scotland. The Goldenacre men will be hoping that the former internationalist is available as they need his runs having dropped to third bottom.

And Carlton travel to second placed Aberdeenshire looking to bounce back from league and cup defeats last weekend.

In Division One bottom of the table Penicuik know that a win against Stirling County is vital, but they will be without Scotland under-17 batsman Freddie Coleman.

SMRH could face an RH Corstorphine backlash at Inverleith in Division Two as the latter look to bounce back from their thumping defeat to leaders Falkland. There is also a fascinating encounter in store in Dumfries where the second placed home side face fourth placed Edinburgh