Cricket: unbeaten Grange ready to savour cricket's joy of six

Grange will start favourites for the annual Scottish indoor six-a-side cricket title at Ravelston tonight as the only one of four finalists to emerge from qualifying pools unbeaten.

Having defeated Murrayfield DAFS and an East Academy select on the way through Grange, led by Scotland cap Gregor Maiden, now face Edinburgh University in the semi-final. The opening semi will be between Watsonians, who have reached the knock-out stage in each of the past two years, and Stenhousemuir.

Maiden said: "By including Dougie Philip, Ken Rae and brothers Henry and Will Edwards, we are looking to develop a strong seam bowling attack for this summer.

"Myself and Nick Peat will hopefully provide a bit of experience that can see us go on to lift the title. Will Edwards is shaping up as a particularly good prospect having grown by about a foot since last season and added a yard of pace.

"Batting-wise the indoor sixes are especially good at encouraging younger players to seek out gaps in the field and curb natural instincts to blast the ball."

Half the 'Sonian side comprises internationalists Stuart Chalmers, Ewan Chalmers and Craig Wright with the hard hitting James Easton, Mike Legget and Fraser Boyd completing the line-up.

As for Edinburgh University, they will draw on recent success in the Scottish students sixes as well as competing indoors at British level.

Skipper Neil Wicks, a medical student who was previously part of the Essex County youth set-up, said: "We were particularly pleased of having four batsmen reach the mandatory 25 runs then retire against a strong club like Carlton in qualifying."