Big games help raise Highland cricket profile

IT'S all go these days for cricket in the Highlands. The North of Scotland Cricket Association – building on their success in the 2009 SCU Trophy when a NoSCA Select defeated East Kilbride by six runs in a New Williamfield thriller – last Monday took on and lost to a strong MCC team in a prestigious friendly at Gordonstoun with a team comprising players from RAF Lossiemouth, Fochabers, Highland and Elgin, and captained by Lossiemouth stalwart Dave Wolton.

Next up, Lossiemouth will be in action against the Saltires in a charity match. The Moray team, alongside a couple of Army and Navy players based in Scotland, will play under a 'Scottish Forces XI' banner in a 20/20 evening match in aid of 'Help for Heroes' on Thursday 17 June at Grange.

"The game will be prefaced by an army parachutist delivering the match ball and a fly-past by Tornado jets," said Wolton.

"It's an exciting curtain-raiser for the much-anticipated Scotland v England one-day international on the Saturday, and we also hope to have a net-cum-training session with the Saltires and the World Cup-winning England team on the Friday."