Cricket: Heriot’s hold on to pip Carlton

After Carlton had been  inserted and made 193 helped by an 83-run partnership for the sixth wicket between Toby Bailey (52) and Jamie Kerr (41) the visitors showed a maturity and calm when chipping away at the target with a few uncharacteristic home overthrows easing the task.

Eventually, the ability of  Heriot’s to dispatch weaker deliveries and place singles paid off but only after opener David Ross had smacked a superb 67 and Scotland Under-19 cap  Peter Ross had come in at No.6 to make an unbeaten 37 including the winning hit, a square cut up the hill to the boundary at the Newington end of the ground.

It was unfortunate that Carlton’s “death” bowler was Sean Olivier because shortly beforehand he had looked to have turned the game by positioning himself brilliantly under a spiralling strike from Craig  Adams to take the catch and leave Heriot’s needing 31 runs off 30 balls with only three wickets standing.

However, Peter Ross had other ideas and 12 from the third last over swung the pendulum back Heriot’s way.

Said Peter Ross: “It was all about getting to that last over not needing too many runs and five was certainly well within our capabilities.

“We bowled well, not letting them take the game away from us despite a good partnership to make 193 a gettable total.

“Then, we started well and despite a bit of a mistake in the middle when we could have ticked over a bit better, took advantage of the foundations laid at just over 100 for two after 25 overs.

“From there our lower order had a chance to finish the game off and I benefitted from being in a similar position at the end of last week playing for Scotland under-19s against Northern Universities.

“Although we lost that match I learned a lot from being in a tight finish and was really confident we’d pull through in the last over.”

In fact, bowler Olivier was unfortunate to send down a wide with his second delivery that  allowed tail-ender Keith Morton to move off strike.

Already with his eye in, Peter Ross patiently allowed the next three deliveries to go through before taking the first opportunity that came along.

“I went really hard and got it over the fielder and it went for four,” said the match-winner who was playing only his second game of the season for Heriot’s after shoulder surgery although he has had a series of games with various outfits including MCC before heading off to the Under-19 world cup in Australia on Friday.

“There is still a bit of cricket to be played before leaving,” said Ross “but what is important for Heriot’s is that we’ve developed a bit of confidence from this game.

“Not only did we chase down the runs but we bowled a good Carlton team out (with one ball to spare).”

While Carlton will rue not getting another 20 on the board and take some comfort from 17-year-old Chayank Gosain’s figures of 1-40 from a full ten-over spell of spin bowling the win keeps Heriot’s on the coat-tails of joint leaders Watsonians and Barclays Wealth Grange, both of whom won.

In making up for the disappointment of a Masterton Trophy final defeat by Carlton on Friday night Watsonians posted a two-wicket victory at Forfarshire.

Chasing a total of 198-9 ‘Sonian Ewan Chalmers led the way with an unbeaten 71. Grange were much more emphatic in rolling over Stoneywood-Dyce in Aberdeen.

Batting first, Grange knocked up 274-7 with Simon Smith (50), Giles Holmes (46no), Henry Edwards (41), Sanjay Patel (34) and Gregor Maiden (34) all among the runs. Spinner Maiden then took 3-6 to help bowl the hosts out for 82.

In East Division One captain Mark Burgess led from the front with 49 as SMRH defeated West Lothian but RH Corstorphine went down to Penicuik. Edinburgh Accies’ clash with Freuchie was cancelled.