Cricket: Carlton are T20 masters

CARLTON continued their domination of the Murgitroyd Masterton Twenty20 cricket cup with a comfortable win over Edinburgh at Academy Park in the first semi-final, writes GARY HEATLY.

The Grange Loan men have been regular fixtures in the final in recent seasons and last year lost out to RH Corstorphine.

Batting first, the visitors scored 198-5 with Cedric English hitting 45, Blake Dean 34 and Jamie Kerr 32. Newly-appointed Scotland skipper Gordon Drummond also scored some good late runs, including a couple of big sixes as the SNCL Second Division side's bowlers toiled in the evening sunshine.

In reply Edinburgh's top order gave things a good go but, once the Carlton bowlers got into their collective stride, there was only going to be one winner.

Spinner Preston Mommsen was on a hat-trick at one point, and although he did not get it, he ended up with three wickets. Overseas amateur Dean also bowled well as did ex-Edinburgh man Omar Ahmad as the hosts were 131 all out to lose by 67 runs.