Clinical Grange wrap up title

Grange captain Sanjay Patel praised his side's performance after they defeated Forfarshire to win their sixth SNCL Premier Division title in 11 seasons.

From the moment pro Roy Adams had Forfarshire danger man Ryan Watson caught behind with the second ball of the match at Forthill, the day belonged to the visitors.

In the end Grange bowled out the hosts for just 90 runs — Stuart Davidson, Gregor Maiden and Andy Wilson joined Adams in taking wickets — before young opener Oli Hairs smashed a quickfire 56 to guide them home.

The clinical victory meant that the result of nearest challengers Watsonians' match at Dunfermline Knights was academic, with the Edinburgh side losing in Fife in any case.

Patel said: "We knew that if we could win our game the title was ours and right from ball one the guys were on top form.

''We never let any of the Forfarshire batsmen settle and we kept the pressure on throughout.

"In the end it was a comfortable win and a great way to seal the championship after an exciting season."

Right from the beginning of the summer, when Grange were short of bowlers and Warren McSkimming announced he was unable to come across from New Zealand due to injury, the whole squad have pulled together and fought hard.

Winning their first six league matches put Grange in the box seat and although Watsonians and Carlton threatened, it always seemed as if the Stockbridge outfit had enough in the tank to get across the line. And so it proved at the weekend, with Hairs' half-century meaning the teenager finished the campaign with over 600 runs to his name.

Watsonians finished second, their best ever placing in the Premier Division, despite the loss at Dunfermline Knights.

The hosts were impressive in bowling 'Sonians out for 124 at McKane Park. Scotland man Ryan Flannigan top scored with 50 for the visitors, but once he and Stuart Chalmers (28) were out the innings collapsed.

Yasir Arafat took three wickets for Dunfermline, while Vasu Reddy also weighed in with 3-16.

In reply the home side never looked in any bother, Gowtham Rai top scoring with 71 and captain Alistair Gray smashing two big sixes and a single at the death to leave him on 36 not out and give him an amazing 1,000 runs for the season.The South African has been a joy to watch this term and it was fitting that he reached the landmark at home in the final game of the season before he headed back to his homeland this morning.

Stuart Chalmers took the wicket of Stuart Campbell, meaning he finished as the league's top wicket-taker with 34, just ahead of Aberdeenshire's Tyler Buchan, who took 32.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Cedric English of Carlton followed up last week's 148 against Forfarshire with 146 against Aberdeenshire.

The former skipper's century helped the visitors post 268 all out at Mannofield, wicketkeeper Jamie Kerr the next highest scorer with 29, and Richie Lamb and pro Michael Parlane taking three wickets apiece.

In Aberdeenshire's reply, the Carlton seamers did a great job, Omar Ahmad finishing the season with a flourish in taking 4-19 while Ally Evans took three wickets as the hosts, the 2009 champions, were 114 all out.

Clydesdale defeated McCrea FS West by five wickets, Qasim Sheikh top scoring with 38 as the home side reached the 160 they needed for victory at Titwood.

And Greenock beat Uddingston by 27 runs at Bothwell Castle, a superb 114 from Scotland all-rounder Richie Berrington setting them up for the victory.