Cricket: Cedric steals the show as Carlton get off mark

CEDRIC ENGLISH was the star of the show as Carlton got their first SNCL Premier Division win of 2010.

The Grange Loan side had lost to Grange and Clydesdale in the opening two weeks but were always in control against struggling Greenock side on a glorious Capital afternoon.

English, back in the side following a niggling injury, opened the bowling with Stevie Elder and the former took the key wickets of Andy Hislop and Shailesh Prabhu to remind the Carlton members what they have been missing.

English bowled his ten overs straight through, finishing with 2-30, while overseas amateur Blake Dean also grabbed two wickets. Top scorer for Greenock in their 232-7 was former Heriot's and RH Corstorphine man Kevin McLaren, who made 67.

In reply, Fraser Watts and Preston Mommsen – both eager to push themselves into the Scotland squad – continued their superb partnership at the top of the order. Captain Watts made a quick 52, while Mommsen fell on 97 before English's 73 not out saw his side home with eight wickets to spare.

Meanwhile, in the First Division, Heriot's had to fight hard to see off Stoneywood Dyce at Goldenacre. Heriot's 201-8 was built on 44 from Australian Adam Lockhart-Krause while Anthony Edington weighed in with a useful 30.

In reply, Edington took 3-38, including the key wicket of Stuart Coetzer, who had made 54, while young Kiwi Matthew Thomas continued his superb start to life in Scotland with 3-44.

The match went right to the wire with the visitors from the north eventually being bowled out for 191 to leave Heriot's joint top with Stirling County after three wins out of three.

Penicuik's tough season continued with a 45-run loss at Arbroath. Batting first, the hosts made 245-7 from their 50 overs, Greg Ruthven the pick of the bowlers for the Midlothian men with three wickets.

Skipper Keith Morton top scored with 42 in reply for Penicuik but they could only reach 200-9.

RH Corstorphine, SMRH and Edinburgh all lost in the Second Division.

At Barnton, Dave Stewart scored 72 not out as RH Corstorphine made 190-7 from their 50 overs but Weirs surpassed that total with two wickets to spare.

SMRH were thumped by 144 runs at Ferguslie after the Capital side were bowled out for just 69 while Edinburgh went down by five wickets at Kelburne.