Cricket: Carlton wary of Umair as Invincibles face off

The Edinburgh club's coach, Steve Gilmour, has warned of possible dangers posed by visiting vice-captain Umair Mohammed, saying: "Umair works as a dentist in Musselburgh and because he lives in Marchmont, close to our ground, he trains and practices with us during the week.

"It's reasonable to assume he'll know a fair bit about us but we also know him to be a busy batter who runs quickly between the wickets as well as an attacking off-spinner so we'll plan to limit his contributions along with others such as Matt Parker, Craig Wallace and Ryan Watson."

Gilmour's advice is well made as Mohammed has not only shared in Forfarshire's victories over Barclays Wealth Grange, Watsonians and Heriot's this season but has produced some quality individual displays.

Against 'Sonians he removed Scotland bat Ryan Flannigan and hit a half century against Heriot's.

Gilmour adds: "We've put special emphasis this week on sharpening our fielding.

"We know Ryan to be an exceptional batsman (he is the league's top all-time run maker) but he does give chances occasionally."

For Carlton 'keeper Jamie Kerr returns to play his 198th Premiership match which means 15-year-old Matt Wells, who would have played last weekend had rain not intervened, has to wait a bit longer for his debut.

Also, Fraser Watts would have been unavailable but he returns at the expense of Rajan Bhopal in a full strength Carlton who also face Ayr at home in the Scottish Cup on Sunday.

At Raeburn Place, Grange go into their meeting with Aberdeenshire hoping that Papua New Guinean teenager Legga Siaka can maintain current form.

Facing SMRH in a recent Murgitroyd Masterton twenty:20 win - Grange now await Heriot's next Thursday in the semis - leg spinner Siaka took four wickets in five balls including a "hat-trick".

A venture to winless Stirling County might appear a straightforward task for Heriot's but the Goldenacre club suffered defeat on their last visit.

Debuting for Heriot's will be Edinburgh University student Keith Allen, an Irish doctor who has fared well in a couple of appearances for an unbeaten second team.

Watsonians are at home to Clydesdale and will expect Ryan Flannigan and Stuart Chalmers to be seeing the ball big after turning out this week for Scottish Lions against select opposition at Uddingston.

In that game, SMRH pro George Worker smacked a first innings century which should put him in good nick for a championship home encounter with Weirs when overseas amateur will have a late fitness test on a damaged foot.

Edinburgh Accies are at East Kilbride before heading to Aberdeenshire in the Cup on Sunday while RH Corstorphine receive Ferguslie with Azhar Abid and Jay Arun back for a fixture which will evoke memories of 2010 when Kevin Meier took a catch at gully in pouring rain near darkness to tie with Ferguslie needing a single to win off the last delivery.

"It's reasonable to assume [Umair] will know a fair bit about us but we also know him"

STEVE GILMOUR