Cricket: Carlton's Aussie secret weapon ready to have batsmen in a spin

The overseas amateur is running into form with the bat as shown when hitting 77 off 30 deliveries and featuring only three 'dot' balls against touring side Stretford at Grange Loan in midweek.

Also, his seam-up deliveries have been causing batsmen problems since his arrival from Australia.

But according to Gilmour his colleague still has a few tricks up his sleeve which could come in particularly useful against an opponent who has twice been architect of Carlton's downfall this season.

"As a youngster Blake bowled leg spin for New South Wales under-17s and not a lot of people know how to play that kind of ball in Scotland.

"He's been polishing the skill in our nets and sooner rather than later we may unleash him as a leg spinner.

"This could very well be the week especially if Clydesdale's Greig Williamson gets going against us once more."

At the beginning of this season Carlton posted an extremely healthy 273-2 at Clydesdale only to be denied with Williamson hitting 105.

A few weeks later the former Saltires star posted a brisk half century as an under strength Carlton bowed out of the Scottish Cup at the hands of the Glaswegians.

Gilmour said: "The upside of those two defeats is that we have had plenty of close-ups regarding what to expect and plan for."

Announcing the same side as went down to leaders Grange last week when slipping from third to fifth in the table, Gilmour said players brought in to cover for Fraser Watts, Ross Lyons, Gordon Drummond and Cedric English, absent either through representative duty or injury, were well worth another opportunity.

"I thought we were on course to restrict Grange to around 220-230 last week which would have been an acceptable target.

"Unfortunately we hadn't bargained on Stuart Davidson's 66 off 39 balls and they got to 263-5.

"It was only in the last couple of overs that the game got away from us. Although the result was disappointing there were still plenty of positives, including four wickets for Tom Clarke and Omer Ahmad's very tidy ten-over stint that went for only 29 runs."

A couple of miles away Watsonians will be looking to re- ignite their campaign at home to Uddingston.

After naming a one-change side with wicket keeper Euan Stubbs returning, skipper Steve Paige posted a warning ahead of 'Sonians bid to complete a seasonal double as a pick- me-up following defeat by ,Forfarshire.

"In Paul Hoffman Uddingston have got the best all-rounder in the league.

He is a quality player who must be watched closely."

In fact, Hoffman lies seventh in the P remiership run scoring charts with 380 while his haul of 21 wickets is surpassed by only one other player.

So 'Sonians would do well to avoid focusing all their attentions on Hoffman, though, as Uddy skipper Ricky Bawa has bowled his last 20 overs at a cost of just 22 runs and is fresh from a five-wicket haul in the defeat of West last week.

According to Paige, fine tuning only may be required to get 'Sonians back to winning ways.

"We were just a bit too generous in the bowling and fielding department especially when letting Forfar put on 99 for the sixth wicket.

"Our batting was also a bit suspect but Ally Fleming and Ross Paxton rebuilt our innings and we ultimately only lost by five runs."

For leaders Grange a clash with Dunfermline will evoke memories of the earlier encounter which went into the record books for Gregor Maiden's 166 not out.

Maiden, currently injured, will be an absentee tomorrow in Fife but the Capital side have recently demonstrated strength in depth.

In Division One Heriot's, with batsman Chris Goddard restored to the side, await Ayr.

It's a case of first plays third and skipper Steve Knox will be commuting from T in the Park to play.

Knox said: "A victory tomorrow would open up a gap between the top two sides and the rest."

Division Two SMRH will be at Kelburne hoping pro Jon Kent can build on scores of 30 and 152 since returning from South Africa following a gap of several years. RH Corstorphine entertain Imans Edinburgh.