Cricket: Hairs cuts Watsonians down to size with bat

Chasing Watsonians' 210-6 at Raeburn Place, Grange had a few wobbles along the way but made it home with three wickets in hand thanks to good knocks from Scotland under-19 man Hairs, Stuart Chalmers (35 not out) and Giles Holmes (28).

The victory leaves Grange top of the table with four matches to play and they face an away game at title challengers Aberdeenshire this coming weekend.

Hairs, an 18-year-old Merchiston Castle pupil, has been in great form over recent weeks for both club and country and, after it continued against 'Sonians, the left-handed batsman said: "It was a good run chase from us although we probably could have done it with fewer wickets down, but it is all about winning at this stage of the season. As I have been playing quite a lot of cricket recently and batting for good periods I feel I am seeing the ball well.

"It is great to have players around me like Sanjay Patel, Neil McCallum and Cameron Coles because when I bat with them they help me out. I was pleased to get a decent score and I am looking forward to the next few weeks."

Watsonians opened the batting with a new combination – Ryan Flannigan and wicketkeeper George Cairns – but they both fell early on to Stuart Davidson. Pro Andy Delmont steadied things with 31 before he was out lbw to Stuart Chalmers and that left Scotland cap Ewan Chalmers to lead the way.

It was not the best knock the 19-year-old will ever play, but he dug in and fought his way to a valuable 86 with middle-order batsmen James Easton (27) and Andy Learmonth (24) giving him support. Ross Paxton then hit 18 not out in the last few overs to get his side over 200.

In reply, Hairs opened the batting with captain Patel and the youngster showed early on that he was in no mood to hang around, smashing a big six off the bowling of Garrick Sutherland.

In the next over, however, 'Sonians got the breakthrough when Patel was caught behind for five off the bowling of captain Steve Paige. The very next ball, Cameron Coles was bowled for a golden duck, leaving the home side on 27-2 before McCallum survived the hat-trick ball.

Despite the double setback, Hairs continued to play his shots and show what a strong cutter of the ball he is. The next wicket fell in the 12th over – Raj Routray's first – as he bowled McCallum for five to claim his 24th wicket of a very productive season.

Hairs went on to reach his 50, but, when Routray bowled Stuart Moffat eight overs later, Grange were 86-4 and the visitors would have been hopeful of their third win of the season over the Stockbridge men.

This was even more the case when, after a tidy spell from spinner Paxton and the eventual loss of Hairs, Grange were 169-6 off 40 overs and still needing 42 to win.

However, Grange bat a long way down and, with Gregor Maiden hitting 20 from number eight and 'Sonians dropping a couple of catches, the game swung back in their favour.

Former Penicuik man Chalmers and Davidson (15 not out) saw their side home with the former hitting Routray for a four in the 48th over to ensure that Grange kept their place at the summit.

WATSONIANS

Flannigan c Wilson b Davidson5

Cairns lbw b Davidson0

Delmont lbw b S Chalmers31

E Chalmers c Patel b S Chalmers86

Easton b Holmes27

Learmonth c Wise b S Chalmers24

Paxton not out18

Sutherland not out5

Extras: 14

Total (for 6 wickets) 210

Bowling: S Chalmers 3-47

GRANGE

Patel c Cairns b Paige5

Hairs c E Chalmers b Delmont72

Coles b Paige0

McCallum b Routray5

Moffat b Routray11

S Chalmers not out35

Maiden lbw b Sutherland20

Davidson not out15

Extras: 20

Total (for 7 wickets) 211

Grange (8pts) beat Watsonians (2pts) by three wickets