Cricket: Patel leads from front in derby win

SANJAY PATEL played a real captain's innings to help lead Grange to their second win of the season in the SNCL Premier Division on Saturday.

The opening batsman scored 76 just two days after his father Mahendra, a well-known figure in Scottish cricketing circles, passed away to help his side defeat Carlton by 38 runs at Grange Loan.

Those runs, along with 53 from in-form Scotland man Neil McCallum, helped the visitors post a competitive total of 218-6 batting first in a match reduced to 45 overs a side. The Grange spinners then took control with the ball to secure the victory, the hosts eventually all out for 180 despite a defiant 60 from Gordon Drummond.

Grange vice-captain Gregor Maiden said: "Sanjay's innings really was superb given that he had to face some pretty tricky bowling early on and for him and Neil to go on and make half centuries shows their quality.

"We kept it pretty tight when we were bowling and the key was running Gordon out, that really sealed it for us and we were happy with our day's work."

Carlton skipper Fraser Watts felt his side gave away 20 more runs than they should have done with some slack bowling and fielding early on and was disappointed that no-one batted well alongside Drummond to keep their side in the hunt for a home win to open the season.

He said: "We just didn't build partnerships when we were batting and if we had done that we might have given ourselves a chance. Overall, it was a frustrating day, but with a few things to build on."

Teenager Oli Hairs was the first man out for Grange, Charles Legget taking his scalp for 16 before Mohammed Habib took a debut wicket for Carlton to see off Cammy Coles for just five.

Patel and McCallum then put on a decent partnership to steady the ship and some good late cameos by Maiden (23) and Stuart Davidson (13) helped take their side over the 200-mark. Carlton bowled 17 wides, which is something they will need to cut out if they are to challenge for the title.

In reply, Carlton new boy Preston Mommsen went for just five, caught by Patel off the bowling of Micky Thomas, and when Watts, Steve Gilmour and Bryn Lockie joined him in the pavilion they were in a bit of trouble.

Scotland all-rounder Drummond batted well, but the victory went to the visitors.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Watsonians got off to a losing start in their Premier Division campaign. They went down by 56 runs at Forfarshire despite four wickets from Ross Paxton.

Heriot's got off to a flyer in the First Division, South African Andre Van Niekerk taking five wickets as they defeated Falkland easily after bowling them out for just 72. Penicuik lost to Ayr in the same division.

In the Second Division, RH Corstorphine won at Kelburne, but SMRH and Edinburgh both lost.