Cricket: Chalmers all set to take place of injured Maiden

AN INJURY to one batsman based in the Capital may give another from Edinburgh the chance to step into the Scotland team this week.

Grange man Gregor Maiden broke his thumb while batting in Scotland's victory over Canada at the ICC World Cricket League in the Netherlands.

Maiden is out for the rest of the tournament with Carlton skipper Fraser Watts and Watsonians youngster Ewan Chalmers in the mix to take his place in the side. Scotland, who have won their first two matches, take on Ireland, Kenya and Afghanistan this week before the final is played at the weekend.

On Saturday the Scots batted first in Amstelveen and it was the Carlton/Grange combination of Preston Mommsen and Oli Hairs who once again opened the batting.

Teenager Hairs started brightly, but was first man out for nine when he was bowled by Calvert Hooper. Maiden joined Mommsen at the crease and the pair settled in to put on a 43-run stand. It was tough going for them, there were a lot of dot balls, and Mommsen eventually succumbed to frustration and was caught after skying one in the air for 19 off 58 balls.

Maiden went on to make 30, the last few runs coming when he was joined by Richie Berrington at the crease. However, he was out with the score on 81-3 and it was revealed that he had broken his thumb quite early in his innings.

Berrington and Neil McCallum then moved things on superbly and really took it to the Canada attack to help up the run rate. The two in-form players put on a partnership of 124 runs and both played some superb shots.

Grange's McCallum, who is now Scotland's most capped player in ODIs, marked the occasion with 88 not out and the support from Berrington with 67 was much needed. In the end Scotland made 236-4 from their 50 overs and on a wicket that seemed to be deteriorating all the time it was a good total. Umar Bhatti was the pick of the Canadian bowlers with two scalps.

Scotland then got off to the perfect start with the ball, Forfarshire youngster Matthew Parker having Canada dangerman Rizwan Cheema caught by Gordon Goudie for just two.

No.3 batsman Zuban Surkari was next to go, following Cheema back to the pavilion with the score on 27 after he was bowled by Goudie. Hiral Patel then brought the opposition back into things when he hit 37 off 32 balls including one superb six off Parker. However, he was brilliantly caught by Mommsen in the slips at that point off the bowling of Goudie and when the rain began to come in bursts the Scots were on top.

Eventually it came down to Canada needing to score 116 off five overs to win via the Duckworth/Lewis method. That was never going to be likely with their best batsmen already out and the Scots kept things tight to win by 69 runs.

Goudie was the pick of the Scottish bowlers with 3-18, while Carlton spinner Ross Lyons got 2-23, Parker, Berrington and Drummond all took one and occasional spinner Mommsen grabbed his first international wicket to go with his great catch earlier in the day. Scotland were due to take on Ireland today.