Grange in the groove as they glide to the summit

Published on Monday 27 July 2009 11:55

GRANGE cricket captain Sanjay Patel was a contented man on Saturday evening after he saw his side move to the top of the SNCL Premier Division with a win over Capital rivals Carlton.

The six-wicket victory at Grange Loan, coupled with Aberdeenshire's loss at Greenock, means that the men from Raeburn Place are now top of the table with five matches to go.

And, as with last week against Greenock, the Grange showing was of such a standard that they will be backing themselves not to lose again before the summer is out and, as a result, regain their title. There was a couple of late wobbles, but the away win was secured.

Pro Allan Wise took four wickets and he is coming into some solid form at the business end of the season, while Patel himself and Cameron Coles are both having purple patches with the bat. The team has a balanced look to it and will only get stronger with all-rounder Giles Holmes back this weekend.

Patel, who top scored with 78, said: "I thought we maybe gave Carlton a few too many runs towards the end of their innings as we would have liked to keep them to under 200, but it was pleasing to see Allan Wise and Andy Wilson in the wickets.

"With the bat myself and Oli Hairs managed to get the run chase off to a steady start and when Cammy (Coles] came in I just wanted to stick around with him and let him play his shots as he is in such good form right now.

"The way we chased down the total pleased me for the most part and we are confident heading into August. With Giles (Holmes] back in the mix I have some selection problems ahead of this weekend's match against Watsonians, but that is a good thing and we are enjoying our cricket as a group currently."

Carlton, who had seen their Murgitroyd Masterton Trophy final against RH Corstorphine postponed again on Friday night, batted first and made 219-8.

Ben Duerden, a regular runscorer in the second team, opened with Scotland's Fraser Watts after the former had been called up late due to the unavailability of Steve Gilmour. Peter Deakin was also missing from the batting line-up, but Duerden and Watts gave their side a good platform on which to build.

Duerden made his first top team 50, while Watts made 42 before a change of bowling altered the course of the afternoon. Spinner Andy Wilson, who missed the start of the season through injury, managed to get Watts out with his first ball of the match. He was caught behind by wicketkeeper Gregor Maiden and soon after two other key batsmen - skipper Cedric English and Bryn Lockie - were also back in the pavilion.

English had made just five when Wise had him caught behind by Maiden and Lockie (10) was caught be Patel off Wilson. The fall of wickets put pressure on Duerden to keep going and he did well, making 59 in the end before being bowled by Wise.

Gordon Drummond, who has been in good nick over the last few weeks, failed this time with the bat, making just three, but useful contributions from wicketkeeper Jamie Kerr (29), Ross Lyons (23) and 25 by Omar Ahmad helped the home side past 200.

In reply Patel opened with teenager Hairs, who has been in great form in July for the club and the Scotland under-19 team. They started comfortably until seamer Ally Evans managed to get Hairs to mistime a pull shot straight into Duerden's hands and he was out for 23.

However, after that initial breakthrough the Carlton bowlers struggled as a unit to threaten Patel and Coles and the poor balls were punished.

The skipper's 78 means he has now scored 143 runs in his last two outings, while Coles - who ended up with 58 - has now scored 206 runs in his last three matches, including a century against Heriot's.

The partnership between the two should have taken Grange to the brink of victory, but when they both fell along with Neil McCallum, who made 14, there was still some work to be done.

As he did against Greenock the previous week, Stuart Moffat hit some big shots to take the pressure off and he (21 not out) and Stuart Chalmers saw the win through.

As mentioned Grange welcome Watsonians to Stockbridge this coming weekend, with Carlton on the road to Aberdeenshire.

CARLTON

Watts c Maiden b Wilson42

Duerden b Wise59

English c Maiden b Wise5

Lockie c Patel b Wilson10

Drummond c Chalmers b Wilson3

Kerr c Wilson b McCallum29

Lyons c Taylor b Wise23

Ahmad b Wise25

Legget c not out4

Evans not out1

Extras: 18

Total (for 8 wickets)219

Bowling: Wise 4-49, Wilson 3-32.

GRANGE

Patel c Legget b English78

Hairs c Duerden b Evans23

Coles c Kerr b Lyons58

McCallum c Watts b English14

Moffat Not out21

Chalmers not out5

Extras: 21

Total (for 4 wickets) 220

Grange (8pts) beat Carlton (2pts) by six wickets