Cricket: Grange swoop for Proteas star

Grange have swooped to make a major signing as they attempt to close in on another Scottish cricket Premiership title.

All-rounder Roy Adams, 21, is due to fly in today from South Africa to fill the vacant professional's slot and will debut against Watsonians at Raeburn Place tomorrow.

It is a timely arrival by a player who, representing the South African Invitational XI against a strong England tour side last December, bowled 13 overs for a miserly 14 runs. England's top five batsmen were Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell.

Tomorrow's clash will see Grange bidding to extend a lead of 11.64 percent over nearest challengers Watsonians who have a game in hand against the National Academy.

However, Adams will be ineligible when Grange tonight seek to regain the Murgitroyd Masterton twenty20 title against a strong Carlton line-up missing only Ally Evans (Scotland A duties) at Grange Loan.

Grange skipper Sanjay Patel is resting an elbow injury tonight in the hope of being able to help complete a seasonal double over Watsonians and says: "We haven't had a professional and hopefully Roy can help put finishing touches to our league campaign. This is also an opportunity for him to find out a bit about the club and us to learn his qualities with a view to perhaps enlisting him for next season."

Also missing tonight's final but due to return tomorrow is all-rounder Giles Holmes but internationalist Gregor Maiden is injured and Oliver Hairs is in action with Scotland A.

Watsonians are also affected by the A side's involvement in the ICC European Championship Division One event in Jersey through Stuart Chalmers, Ewan Chalmers and Ryan Flannigan while skipper Steve Paige is also absent.

Captaincy duties transfer to Euan Stubbs, top stumper in last year's Premiership with 23 victims and already with 11 victims to his credit from seven outings this season.

Stubbs admits strength-in-depth will be tested but says the arrival of Adams, who has played for South Africa under-19s when they lost to India in the 2008 world cup final in Malaysia, could bring something extra from his side.

"It's good to challenge yourself against the best players around."

Stubbs, while glad to be able to call upon Andy Learmonth, Vijay Saisubramanian and Raj Routray who was second top wicket-taker in the Premiership last year but has been helping the 2nds top the East League while completing medical studies. Added Stubbs: "This is a massive game because a loss would see Watsonians drop back in the title race. On the other hand, a win would put us right back in the mix and we would take a lot of confidence for the run-in."

Doubtless, though, all eyes will be on Adams who is highly rated on the Cricket Exchange Agency player and coach placement website which states: "Roy Adams is an exciting prospect who plays first-class cricket for Griqualand West in the South African Airways Provincial Challenge.

"He burst onto the domestic scene making his debut for Griqualand West in February 2007 then proceeded to enjoy a successful Under-19 Cricket World Cup for South Africa.

"He was a key performer throughout the tournament and made an impact in both the semi-final (2-22) against Pakistan and also in the final (2-38) against India."

Elsewhere tomorrow, Carlton had for bottom-of-the- table Greenock while in Division One Heriot's visit Stoneywood Dyce.

In Division Two, SMRH are at home to Ferguslie while Imans Edinburgh await Kelburne with RH Corstorphine heading for Weirs.

n IF tonight's Murgitroyd Masterton Trophy tie is rained off organisers have set next Tuesday as the replay date, also at Grange Loan.