Cricket: Smells like team spirit as Sonians make history

Never in the Premiership's 12-year history had Watsonians managed to win a league match at Raeburn Place and this success could not have been more timely.

The Myresiders, who have a game in hand, now trail Grange by less than two percentage points but third-placed Forfarshire and possibly Carlton also will fancy their chances of making up the shortfall before the title run-in ends on 28 August.

"I thought perhaps we'd need a total of 190 or at least 180 to be competitive," admitted wicket-keeper/batsman Stubbs when referring to an eventual total of 164. He added: "Fortunately, the pitch began to turn quite a bit and spinners Ross Paxton and Vijay Saisubramanian were able to get the ball to grip with a bit of variation and bounce which ultimately proved crucial inrestricting Grange."

Before then, seamer Mike Leggett bowled his ten overs for 33 runs in claiming two wickets, making a significant contribution to destabilising a Grange side who were needing 166 for victory under the Duckworth/Lewis ruling after a brief period was lost to rain and the match reduced by one over per side to 49.

Sensing, perhaps, that rain might play a part, Grange won the toss and inserted their Capital rivals but immediately found themselves on the back foot. "A lot of credit has to go to openers Andy Learmonth (25) and James Easton (33) for batting exceptionally well to put on 59 for the first wicket in what was to prove a low-scoring game" said Stubbs.

"After that (pro) Tim Weston came in and very nearly batted all the way through for his innings of 59.

When Kiwi Weston eventually departed, Watsonians stood 163-9 and only four of their side had made it into double figures - the other being Stubbs (11).

It looked ominous when Cameron Coles sought to establish a brisk pace but, with the total on 30, both he and Iain Worth had departed.

There was a let-off for Grange, too, when Mike Powell was dropped at slip off Legget early on but the ex-Warwickshire and England A bat managed only a couple of boundaries in his painstakingly-compiled 34 and left after going for the big hit and succumbing to a delivery from Saisubramanian.

Runs have been flowing all season on the Raeburn Place pitch but, on this occasion, the hosts were forced to scratch along desperately seeking a winning partnership that never came. The best they could manage was when Simon Smith and new South African pro Roy Adams - a very tidy seamer with figures of 1-41 from nine debut overs - came together.

As long as the pair were at the crease, Grange hopes flickered but, when Smith (23) went for a big hit and presented a high, hanging catch to Weston at backward square leg, resistance was effectively broken especially with Adams following soon after for 19.

With 15 required off the final over, by Raj Routray, the tail-enders never remotely looked like threatening and, if Grange were short of four internationalists - Oli Hairs (Scotland A), Gregor Maiden and Stuart Davidson (both injured) and Stuart Moffat (unavailable) ,then Watsonians had Stuart Chalmers, Ewan Chalmers and Ryan Flannigan away with the A team and captain Steve Paige sidelined. "Another reason this is so satisfying is that we have identified real strength in depth," said a delighted Stubbs.

"Andy Learmonth and Vijay Saisubramanian in particular stepped up and we are right back in the mix now."

For Grange this will probably go down as a wake-up call.

One consolation, though, was the performance of newcomer Adams of whom Stubbs said: "I faced a few deliveries from Roy Adams and he certainly has the ability to move the ball away from the bat well.

"He looked an exceedingly useful performer, who is going to make an impact on the league as well as raising standards which can't be a bad thing."

Grange will now have an opportunity to bounce straight back at home to bottom-placed Greenock next Saturday.

As for Watsonians they have arguably their most important cricketing weekend in years with a trip to Greaves Clydesdale followed 24 hours later by a home clash with the National Academy which could, conceivably, see them take over pole position with five matches remaining.