Cricket: Grange dig deep to secure first-day win over Stirling

Grange once again showed their never-say-day attitude as they got their SNCL Premiership campaign off to a winning start against Stirling County.

Over the past few years the Stockbridge club have become adept at coming out of tight matches with a positive result and they started 2011 in similarly defiant fashion. Grange batted first at New Williamsfield and made a competitive 222-8, with Neil McCallum the mainstay with 110 and Kiwi Simon Taylor giving good support with 44.

In reply, County looked like they may cause an upset with victory, but, needing four off the last ball of their innings, they could only scramble one, leaving Grange victorious by three runs.

For Grange, the star men with the ball were evergreen seamer Stuart Davidson, who took 5-26, and debutant spinner Andrew Brock, who showed his potential to be a big player this term with 3-43 after moving from SMRH. Watsonians, who finished second behind Grange in the top flight last term, also got a tight away win to start their 2011 campaign. They travelled to Cambusdoon to take on Ayr and Stuart Chalmers top scored with 71 not out to help them post 229-7 batting first. Other useful contributions came from Euan Stubbs, with 46, and pro Tim Weston, with 39.

Chalmers, who took 34 wickets in the league in 2010, then led the way with the ball. His 3-47 helped restrict Ayr to 222-8, with ex-New Zealand international Michael Papps top scoring with 88. Heriot's return to the top flight saw them lose at Forfarshire. Batting first in Broughty Ferry, the Goldenacre men posted 252-9, overseas amateur Chris Kent from Papua New Guinea top-scoring with 64, wicketkeeper Simon Smith making 52 on his debut and pro Adam Lockhart-Krause hitting 49. Former Scotland captain Ryan Watson led the way for the home side, with his 75 seeing them to their victory target with six wickets in hand.

In the Championship, West Lothian and SMRH started with wins. Pro Kruger van Wyk smashed 156 not out as West Lothian won at Freuchie by 23-runs. And at Ferguslie Raja Javed took three wickets as SMRH won by two wickets after chasing down the target of 214. Edinburgh Accies lost by five runs at Renfrew, Penicuik lost by 43 runs at Poloc and RH Corstorphine lost by six wickets to East Kilbride.