Cricket: Leaders Grange go north in search of third straight win on spin row

Grange head to Arbroath this afternoon looking to secure their third Cricket Scotland Eastern Premier Division victory on the trot.

The Portgower Place club won the ‘old’ SNCL Premier Division six times from 2000 to 2010 and the squad assembled this summer looks like it may challenge for honours once more. After seeing their first two matches in the revamped Eastern league wiped out due to the weather they now top the fledgling table with week five’s fixtures upon us.

They sit in first place after good wins over Aberdeenshire and Forfarshire in the last fortnight, and although they will be confident heading to Lochlands, they know only too well what a tough venue it can be.

Last season when the two clubs met at the ground Arbroath came out on top, scoring 186 themselves and then bowling the visitors out for 162.

Raj Routray was the Grange hero with the ball last week as he took five wickets to down Forfarshire and he leads a strong looking attack including the likes of fellow seamer Stuart Davidson and spinner Andrew Brock.

The batting order will have to be tinkered with a bit with Scotland man Ryan Flannigan unavailable. Teenager Will Edwards comes in for him while Gregor Maiden and Sanjay Patel look set to open the batting once again.

The hosts head into the match with three losses from the three matches they have completed so far, but captain Fraser Burnett has faith in his close-knit bunch to turn things around.

Like Grange, Watsonians are looking to clock up their third win on the bounce when they travel to Stoneywood-Dyce. The hosts at Peoples Park will be looking for their fourth on the trot though and this one is shaping up to be a close encounter. Last week it was Pete Legget and Jean Symes who shone with the ball as ‘Sonians saw off Carlton and their bowlers will have to be at their best again up north to see off Jan Stander and Elton Willemse who, when they get going, are two of the most destructive batsmen in the country.

Watsonians look set to travel north without James Easton who has injured a hamstring.

Forfarshire host Heriot’s at Forthill and the Goldenacre side head to Broughty Ferry after defeat to SMRH in the Twenty20 Masterton Trophy during the week.

Scotland cap Sean Weeraratna takes over the captaincy from the injured Steve Knox for the visitors and the all-rounder hit 72 in that midweek defeat. Cam Farrell is another batsman also on form.

Preston Mommsen returns to the Carlton starting XI as they welcome Tyler Buchan’s Aberdeenshire to Grange Loan. Both sides have lost their last two league matches.