Cricket Premiership: Grange ready to step up play-off pursuit after recent weather woes

GRANGE captain Sanjay Patel is looking for his side to hit the heights over the next seven weeks as the countdown to the SNCL Premiership play-offs begins today with a trip to West of Scotland.

All sides in the top flight were frustrated by the weather in June, with many of them hardly playing a game and last Saturday seeing league action put on hold for the 'friendly' Twenty20 event.

However, the weather forecast around the country looks better for this afternoon and all 16 clubs will be refocused on the 50-over format for the next few weeks ahead of the end-of-season split towards the end of August.

The last match reigning champions Grange completed was on 4 June when they defeated Uddingston at home and Patel is looking for his side to hit the ground running at Hamilton Crescent.

He said: "June was really frustrating for all of us and especially after that win over Uddingston we were really looking forward to the next few matches.

"Nevertheless, you cannot do anything about the weather and we are now focused on the next seven weeks. We are all looking forward to this afternoon's encounter."

Grange did manage to get in a Twenty20 match on Thursday evening, progressing to the final of the Masterton Trophy in the East after a win over Heriot's.

In that match 177 played 173 in an exciting encounter and Papua New Guinea under-19 man Lega Siaka was top runs scorer on the night with 51. Patel has been impressed with the teenager. "Lega was quite a quiet lad when he arrived, but he has grown in confidence over the last couple of months and got used to the conditions," he said.

"There is no doubt that he is a quality player.

"We lose him in a few weeks to the under-19 World Cup qualifiers so we hope he can put in a couple of strong showings before he goes."

Grange head to the west without Scotland man Neil McCallum, who is at a wedding, but fellow internationalist Gregor Maiden is available and the batting line-up has a strong look to it. The hosts sit in 12th and pro Colin de Grandhomme has impressed many around the country this season with his clean ball striking - the visiting bowlers will have to be at their best to keep him quiet.

Meanwhile, Stoneywood-Dyce skipper George Ninian hopes young Michael Leask can build on impressive showings for the Caledonian Highlanders last weekend when they travel to Edinburgh to play Heriot's.

Ninian said: "Mike has always had potential and he works hard at his game so hopefully he will have a good couple of months as we work hard ahead of the play-offs. Like all other clubs we haven't had a lot of cricket lately and are raring to go."Heriot's are at full-strength for the match.

Leaders Carlton look set to be without Preston Mommsen who broke his finger on Scotland duty this week as they head to Uddingston.

And Forfarshire, who have only managed to complete four matches all summer, will look to keep up the pressure on the Grange Loan men at the top when they head to struggling Stirling County.

Arbroath will be keen to build up for their Scottish Cup tie tomorrow with a home win over Drumpellier, while Aberdeenshire host Watsonians with the visitors bringing James Easton back into the team after an unbeaten half-century for the second XI last week.

Elsewhere this afternoon, Clydesdale welcome Dunfermline Knights and the in-form Safyaan Sharif to Titwood, while Greenock, with pro Tim McIntosh available, host Ayr at Glenpark.