Another century for new Scotland cap Hairs keeps Grange on top

Last week Hairs had to juggle school exams at Merchiston Castle with Scotland duties and, after earning his first cap on Friday against India A, the 19-year-old led the way for his club in a 126-run win over Forfarshire 24 hours later.

Batting first the hosts made 267 all out, Hairs' 135 being backed up by 32 from Gregor Maiden and 24 from Stuart Moffat. In reply the Broughty Ferry outfit could only manage 141 all out. Experienced seamer Stuart Davidson took three wickets and Maiden snapped up the key wicket of Ryan Watson as the home side were comfortable victors in Stockbridge.

Watsonians kept up the pressure on the leaders with their sixth win in a row. This time it was Dunfermline Knights' turn to be put to the sword at Myreside, with the visitors bowled out for 136. Captain Steve Paige led the way with 3-29, while Ross Paxton and Mike Legget continued their good form with the ball too. Wayne Sullivan top scored for the Fifers with 36.

In reply Ryan Flannigan made 58 and Ewan Chalmers 27 not out as Watsonians won by seven wickets. The young duo had to put up with some good spin bowling, from Aparajit Singh in particular, but dealt with it well.

And Carlton made it an Edinburgh top three in the league with a two wicket victory over Aberdeenshire at Grange Loan. The visitors made a competitive 237-5 with Kiwi pro Michael Parlane making 70 opening the batting and captain Neil Macrae hitting 60. Seamer Ally Evans took 3-45 for the hosts, while they kept up their good fielding standards to get two run outs.

As they have done all summer, however, captain Fraser Watts and Preston Mommsen got Carlton off to a solid start and, after the former was out for 26, the latter posted yet another half century.

Stevie Gilmour was his main partner, making 41, before it became a bit close when Tyler Buchan and Parlane took middle order wickets. In the end it was down to Scotland skipper Gordon Drummond to see Carlton home, his steady 26 not out along with a valuable 18 not out from Omar Ahmad seeing them to victory.

Ian Young played a captain's innings as McCrea FS West won for the first time since the opening day.

They saw off Clydesdale at Hamilton Crescent by four wickets in an intriguing contest. Kamran Sajid led the way with 79 as the visitors made 255-7, and although Dave McNulty took four wickets for the hosts they will have been disappointed to concede 53 extras.

Openers Gregg Watson and Moneeb Iqbal were out for ten and eight respectively in the West reply, but Young steadied things with 70, supported by Duncan Williams who made 65.

Neil Bisman, the overseas amateur, and pro Leighton Burtt then combined with 40 and 19 not out respectively to see them home.

Uddingston easily defeated Greenock at Glenpark and have won five out of ten matches at the halfway point of the campaign. Batting first, Greenock struggled to 131 all out, Andy Hislop digging in for 43 and Paul Hoffman the pick of the visiting bowlers with 4-27. Sameer Zia then stroked 70 to continue his fine form and ease Uddingston to victory by eight wickets.