Cricket: Paxton on song with final push

An innings of 19 not out to follow a bowling spell which yielded 2-19 - the dangerous Jamie Kerr and Ross Lyons were the victims - might seem like a relatively modest return from the Scotland A spinner who is heading to a new job in London before the end of this month. But the contributions have to be seen in the context of helping restrict Carlton to a total of 158-9 that always looked about 20 runs 'light' and then showing resolve to keep the head when it looked as though the contest might run away from Watsonians. Entering the fray at 131-6 and with Ross Lyons' spin threatening to tie the 'Sonian tail in knots, Paxton was calmness personified and he had held his end up magnificently by the time Paddy Saddler swept Preston Mommsen over fine leg for a winning boundary with 2.4 overs remaining.

Cue ecstatic scenes on the boundary - but can Watsonians continue to push Grange, who enter the final fortnight with a 1.75 per cent lead, minus their pro or, for that matter, internationalists Ryan Flannigan and Ewan Chalmers?

Paxton is in no doubt, saying: "Tim has been brilliant and everyone has enjoyed playing alongside him.

"He's had a couple of hundreds but his legacy has been the team ethos he has helped to install.

"Other clubs have deeper squads but man for man we believe we are capable of turning over any team."

Watsonians' run-in comprises a home clash with second bottom West and a trip to third-placed Dunfermline while Grange entertain third bottom Aberdeenshire and visit fourth placed Forfarshire.

However, Paxton knows the stakes are high and that any slip could be fatal.

"It did get quite tense and Carlton did make it tough for us particularly at the death with Preston Mommsen and Ross Lyons bowling.

"I had to make sure I did everything I could to get us over the line but the start we got was also crucial."

Key was James Easton's patient 41 including a first wicket stand of 30 alongside Andy Learmonth.

Easton and Weston might sound like a fringe festival double-act but the pair did move Watsonians along to 73 and, after that, the contest looked their's only to lose.

Stuart Chalmers went cheaply though and Craig Wright looked bemused at being given out caught behind, making Euan Stubbs' 27 particularly valuable until Paxton provided renewed stability.

"We could quite easily have done what Carlton did against us in the first half which was lose five late wickets quite innocuously but thankfully we did enough to ensure they would have to find something special," said Paxton.

"Yes, we made a bit of a pig's ear of the chase but 159 was probably a below par score even allowing for a slow outfield after the recent rain."

The fact the ball was inclined to stick in the softish conditions probably accounted for Carlton reluctance to turn to their quicker bowlers down the home straight but it was a day they would probably wish to forget.

Just as in the previous fixture Steve Gilmour reached 50 and then got out this time to a back foot lbw attempting to sweep Vijay Saisubramanian, who was one of six separate Watsonian wicket takers.

With the acting skipper gone resistance was light and relied mainly on youngster Rajan Bophal (33) as well as a spirited flourish from Ahmad Habib Zai (13) at the the tail end of the innings.

It was no more than a sign of what might have been for Carlton and the league now enters the home straight with Capital contenders neck and neck.

Paxton added: "I was pleased that Craig Wright, Steve Paige and myself managed to bowl reasonably tight lines throughout and all we can do is control what is ours to control and keep winning while hoping Grange slip up somewhere.

"After five fantastic years at Watsonians [after moving from Kelso to study in Edinburgh] a league title really would be a great way to sign off."

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