Cricket: Gowtham Rai relishing prospect of leading in-form Knights into battle with unbeaten Carlton

Dunfermline Knights captain Gowtham Rai is looking forward to welcoming high flying Carlton to McKane Park this afternoon in the SNCL Premiership with the Fifers new-look team beginning to hit form themselves.

Rai's side were touted by many as possible title contenders this summer having finished third in their first season in the top flight in 2010, but with a number of personnel changes and the loss of Daniel Flynn as professional in early April it has taken them a few weeks to gel.

Last weekend's thumping win at Stirling County, when the latter were bowled out for just 56, pointed towards a turn in fortunes and the skipper is excited about the prospect of his side taking on unbeaten Carlton. He said: "We are starting to come together as a team now and I think we have a good balance in our side. I think Carlton have the strongest batting line-up in the league and it should be a good contest."

Like everyone else in the country Rai has been extremely impressed by the form young all-rounder Safyaan Sharif is showing. Indeed last weekend showed just how far he has come when he impressed on debut for the Saltires in a Twenty20 match down at Worcester on Friday night and then bowled beautifully to take three for 11 for his club on Saturday.

Rai said: "This year has seen a much more mature Safyaan on the cricket field and I believe a winter playing in Pakistan really helped him. Over the last few weeks he has been in top form with bat and ball and it is great to see him coming into the Saltires frame." The Knights are unchanged for the match, while Carlton travel over the Forth Road Bridge with Nik Hunt added to strengthen the batting line-up in place of Richard Metcalfe.

Not that the batting line-up needs much strengthening mind you with Cedric English topping the batting table with 335 runs, captain Fraser Watts having posted 285 runs in four outings and Steve Gilmour, Preston Mommsen and Gordon Drummond also in form.

Watts said: "We just want to keep the momentum we have built up going, but we have never found it easy against Dunfermline and looking at their team this season it can give anyone a game on their day."

Grange take on Uddingston in Stockbridge with the reigning champions looking to avoid a third straight defeat. The fixture brings back memories of almost exactly 12 months ago when the men from Bothwell Castle chased down the home side's 340 for five to claim an amazing victory. For the hosts Andrew Brock, James Munro and Henry Edwards come into the side with Henry Phillip, Dougie Phillip and Stuart Moffat out.It will be interesting to see how teenager Edwards does on his return to the side as he has been in fine form with the bat for Fettes College this term.

Elsewhere this afternoon leaders Forfarshire take their unbeaten record to Myreside to tackle Watsonians without unavailable skipper Ryan Watson, but Scotland player Matthew Parker returns after a slight injury.

Replacement pro Tim McIntosh has not arrived in time for Greenock's match with Heriot's at Glenpark, while Scotland's Calvin Burnett looks set for only his second club match of the season as Arbroath visit Stirling County.

Drumpellier host Aberdeenshire, Clydesdale travel to Ayr and West of Scotland welcome Stoneywood-Dyce to Hamilton Crescent.