Cricket: Ryan Watson heaps pressure on Carlton for summit clash

FORFARSHIRE will be without Scotland under-19 star Aman Bailwal for tomorrow's top of the table SNCL Premiership clash with Carlton at Forthill, but they still go into the encounter full of confidence.

Following the league split last weekend things really get interesting now, especially in the top four where Carlton, Forfarshire, Arbroath and Aberdeenshire will battle it out to be crowned 2011 champions next Sunday.

Carlton head to Broughty Ferry tomorrow in top spot having won eight and lost one this summer, while Forfarshire sit second having won seven of eight matches completed.

Forfarshire have the advantage of having played a match last weekend, defeating fellow title chasers Arbroath. At the same time Carlton were left twiddling their thumbs after their match at Heriot's was called off.

It means they have not completed a league match since July and having led the league pretty much from day one Forfarshire skipper Ryan Watson believes the pressure is all on Carlton.

Watson, who scored 48 against Arbroath seven days ago, said: "None of us were really sure how the play-offs were going to work out, but now they are here I think the top four sides have managed to make it into the championship group.

"Carlton should be there given that their team is built on a number of Scotland stars, while we feel we have gone about our business reasonably well and to be second with just three matches to go is pleasing. All the pressure is on Carlton though as I think most outsiders would expect them to go on and win the league. We just have to play our own game and see where it gets us to come next Sunday."

However, Watson will have to do without all-rounder Bailwal - nursing a leg injury and also on a short holiday - for the much anticipated match tomorrow.

Watson added: "Aman is a big part of our team with bat and ball, but we have to get on with it and Tim Hancock and Tony Weed come into the side from the one that played last week."

As well as Bailwal, Gavin Martin drops out of the XI. Watson himself needs 35 to reach 400 runs for the season, while Australian Brendon Ford is their top wicket taker with 14.

Carlton travel north likely to be at full strength with unsung hero Sean Olivier one to look out for. The medium pacer has taken 11 wickets this summer and tends to take key scalps when a bowling change is needed.

Arbroath tackle Aberdeenshire in the other top four match tomorrow with the third top runs scorer in the league Harry Byrnes-Howe facing leading wicket taker Chris West.

The Lochlands men have already beaten Tyler Buchan's side twice in league and cup in 2011.

In the bottom four, with two sides set to be relegated, Greenock know nothing less than a win will do at Ayr if they are to climb off bottom spot.Also in that group Drumpellier take on Stirling County.

In the middle groups Heriot's welcome Grange to Goldenacre, Clydesdale host Watsonians, Stoneywood-Dyce face West of Scotland and, for the second time in the weekend, Uddingston take on Dunfermline Knights. The latter duo also meet today in the Scottish Cup final.