Cash gives Watsonians a boost

IN-FORM teenager Chris Cash has been called-up to the Watsonians team for this afternoon’s clash at Aberdeenshire as the reigning champions look to get their season up and running.

Last summer ‘Sonians won both the Eastern Premier Division and then the overall title after defeating Western Premier Division champions Dumfries, but so far in 2013 they have yet to win a match and are bottom of the table.

Injuries to the likes of Fraser Boyd and Andrew Chalmers has not helped and Stuart Chalmers, skipper last week in the absence of Saltires duo Ewan Chalmers and Dewald Nel, is a doubt for the game with a shoulder problem. If he fails to make it then young Ally Sadler will play following on from his debut last week, but whatever happens Scotland age-grade batsman Cash is being given a chance to shine at Mannofield.

Two weeks ago left-hander Cash hit 82 not out to help the second XI beat Musselburgh and last week his century helped George Watson’s College’s first XI defeat Merchiston Castle. As a result the visitors will have two in-form left-handers in their top order, Cash joining Kiwi Andy Learmonth who hit 96 against Carlton seven days ago.

With Ewan Chalmers on Scotland duty, Nel captains the side while Andrew Fraser-Harris is unavailable.

Fourth-placed Aberdeenshire will be keen to bounce back from last week’s loss to Arbroath. For the encounter Ryan West misses out due to exams so Callum Martin returns to the middle order while the league’s leading wicket taker Daya Singh leads the attack.

Craig Cameron and Euan Small return to the Arbroath XI as the leaders prepare to welcome SMRH to Lochlands. The duo come in for Bryce Carnegie and Ross McLean, the latter down in Durham trialling at their academy. Bowler Calvin Burnett is with Scotland.

Seamer Matthew Coyle misses out for SMRH with a hamstring injury, but Martin Speirs returns.

Second-placed Barclays Grange have vice-captain Andrew Brock in the fray and the spinner replaces Giles Holmes for the trip to Stoneywood-Dyce.

Carlton welcome Heriot’s to Grange Loan and give a league debut to young Fraser Allardice. Gordon Drummond returns with Ruari Macpherson and Ahmed Shah dropping out while Heriot’s have Calum McDougall and Toby Hardwick in for Dave Ross and Ali Farooq.