Cricket: Paxton nears the end of his five-year plan

FORMER Scotland under-19 cricket captain Ross Paxton has vowed to end his five-year stint at Watsonians with a bang – starting against Greaves Clydesdale in the Premiership at Myreside tomorrow.

Borderer Paxton is coming towards the end of a law degree in the Capital and from September will take up a job in London.

Meantime he is keen to keep nudging 'Sonians towards the league title success he feels they are capable of, saying: "All right, we've lost two of our three games so far but I'm convinced this league is so open it can be won with up to six defeats.

"On our day we are capable of beating anybody and against Grange last week we were not very far away from winning. What was needed was a bit more discipline in our bowling and fielding."

Although Raj Routray joins internationalist Ewan Chalmers on the sidelines as the pair prepare to undertake university exams, Watsonians are able to include Mike Leggett fresh from an appearance at Lord's in an MCC match which also featured 'keeper Euan Stubbs.

Also returning is Andy Learmonth and 'Sonians will be hoping to regain the form that enabled them to overcome Uddingston when Paxton's spin bowling yielded 2-28 to add to figures of 4-36 at Forfarshire on the opening day. That means he is already a third of the way towards the 17 victims which earned him a place among the top 20 premiership wicket takers in 2009 while his tally of 72 ranks him fifth in the 'Sonian all-time list.

He said: "Standards are improving – the two teams who came up this season are better than the two who were relegated – so it is getting harder and harder at premiership level.

"Nevertheless, with my studies finished I would really love to get involved in the Scotland A side again and take it from there.

"What it comes down to is performing for 'Sonians and, even though Clydesdale will be missing Majid Haq and Omer Hussain, there are some tremendous performers such as Greig Williamson so we have to be on top of our game," says Paxton.

Meanwhile, top meets bottom when Grange head for Greenock with Stuart Davidson and Stuart Moffat back in the ranks while Carlton are at FS McCrea West.