Premiership: Evans recalled to national squad as Carlton prepare for top-of-table clash

Published on Friday 17 June 2011 16:55

Seamer Ali Evans will spearhead Carlton's bid to remain unbeaten in the SNCL Premiership this afternoon with a spring in his step after being recalled to the Scotland squad.

The current leaders take on second placed Forfarshire in a mouth-watering clash at Grange Loan, with the 22-year-old having yesterday been named in the national squad for the upcoming Intercontinental Cup and ODI's against Holland in Aberdeen.

And, given the form the 22-year-old has been in over the last few weeks, it is no surprise that he is back in Pete Steindl's plans. His spell of 1-20 off ten overs against Watsonians recently was regarded by many onlookers as one of the best opening bowling displays seen at Grange Loan in recent seasons.

Carlton's Steve Gilmour said: "We are pleased for Ali to be back in the Scotland set-up and this season he has been bowling with great control and given us a focal point for our attack.

"In terms of the Forfarshire match we are all greatly looking forward to it after a washout last weekend. Training has gone well this week and it should be a good encounter."

The experienced duo of Fraser Watts and Jamie Kerr return for Carlton, meaning they are at full strength.

The Broughty Ferry outfit travel to Edinburgh for the noon start pretty much at full strength themselves, Matthew Parker being named in the side despite an injury problem that looks to have been the reason why he has been left out of upcoming Scotland matches.

The match sees two of the top-ten runs scorers in the division coming head to head, with Carlton's Cedric English having made 339 runs in six innings and Forfarshire's Brendan Ford, an Australian who has lived on these shores for years, having made 234 runs in five innings.

Meanwhile, Uddingston are excited at the prospect of having a fully fit Paul Hoffmann available to bowl in their match away to Dunfermline Knights.

The former Scotland man has been struggling with a back injury this term, which has restricted his bowling, but he has taken a number of wickets recently in midweek Twenty20 competitions and is relishing the trip to Fife.

Uddingston wicketkeeper Bryan Clarke said: "Despite only having one win in the league so far we have started playing well in Twenty20 competitions and such like and are looking forward to the match at Dunfermline.

"Last year we won there in the league, and in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup we beat them at home, but we know they have some strong performers in their side."

For the visitors, Australian Alecz Day and Calum MacLeod managed to get three days' cricket under their belts in the Lions versus Cavaliers match, while Safyaan Sharif is once again the dangerman for the Fifers and has been rewarded with a Scotland ODI call-up.

Third-placed Arbroath are on the road to Stoneywood-Dyce, while fourth-placed Heriot's are at Stirling County knowing that after the trip they will have a run of home matches during July to push towards the top. Keith Allen makes his first appearance for Heriot's.

Reigning champions Grange are at home to Aberdeenshire who are building up in to a pretty effective unit and have the best opening bowlers in the country in Tyler Buchan and Chris West.

Watsonians welcome Clydesdale to Myreside, with Majid Haq in good form having taken five wickets for the Lions during midweek.

Elsewhere, Drumpellier host Greenock, with the latter's pro, Tim McIntosh, still unavailable, while Ayr take on West of Scotland at New Cambusdoon.