Cricket: Davidson back in style for Grange

Stuart Davidson turned out for Grange for the first time since early July and took four wickets against Aberdeenshire to fire his side within one win of the SNCL Premier Division title.

The experienced all-rounder has been sidelined since the Carlton match on July 3 with a broken finger, but came back with a bang to help bowl the visitors out for 128 as they chased Grange's 185.

The 57-run win at Raeburn Place means that Sanjay Patel's men will win the title if they beat Forfarshire at Forthill on Saturday.

Batting first the Grange innings against Aberdeenshire had not started well, but Neil McCallum and Stuart Moffat got things going in the middle order. McCallum top-scored with 66 while Moffat made 25 as did Davidson as the hosts posted 185 all out with Tyler Buchan getting five wickets for the visitors.

Grange's bowlers knew they had to be on top form to stop Aberdeenshire from making 186 and they were right on the button from the start. Seamer Davidson took 4-30 while pro Roy Adams took 3-27 to see them home. Elsewhere, Cedric English smashed a quite superb 148 not out as Carlton defeated Uddingston to stop a run of defeats. The century along with 52 from captain Steve Gilmour, saw them post 237-4 and then good bowling from Carlton, especially Charles Legget and Tom Clarke, saw the visitors bowled out for 194.

Heriot's head to Arbroath on Saturday with the winners claiming the Fist Division title after their weekend victory at Penicuik. Captain Keith Morton hit 41, but Penicuik were bowled out for 111. Matthew Thomas took three scalps for Heriot's and Sean Weeraratna, Andre van Niekirk and Qasim Ashraf were also in the wickets.

Steve Knox and Thomas then hit 46 and 47 not out respectively as Heriot's won by nine wickets at Kirkhill.

In the Second Division Mark Burgess held his nerve with 22 not out as SMRH defeated Edinburgh in a low scoring match. Edinburgh were bowled out for 66 at Inverleith.

SMRH were then eight wickets down in the run chase, but Burgess held things together.

RH Corstorphine tied with Ferguslie in Paisley.The Edinburgh side made 225-7 batting first, pro Mo Ramzan hitting 118 not out, before the hosts ended up on 225 all out.

"The win at Raeburn Place means Sanjay Patel's men will win the title if they beat Forfarshire at Forthill"