Cricket: New-look cup means early start for Scots cricketers

SCOTLAND’s domestic cricketers are set for their earliest start to the new season when a revamped Scottish Cup gets under way on 21 April.

Officials last night announced that the first three weeks of the season will be devoted to the cup, which will be contested on Saturdays rather than Sundays.

The tournament will be played in eight mini-groups of four teams who will meet each other home and away.

Holders Uddingston launch their defence against Fauldhouse while Grange entertain Renfrew in the same group.

Cricket Scotland chief executive Roddy Smith said: “The expanded cup format will create a lot of interest and give more clubs an opportunity to progress.

“The new domestic structure also frees up Sundays for more representative cricket, which we feel is important for players with aspirations of representing Scotland.”

The winners of the eight groups will progress to the quarter-finals with the runners-up going into the SCU Trophy.

Meanwhile, SNCL champions Carlton will launch their bid to become inaugural winners of the CSL Eastern Premier Division with a derby clash at Heriot’s.

The Grange Loan outfit follow that up with a mouth-watering fixture at home to last season’s runners-up Arbroath.

Other opening-day fixtures see Stoneywood-Dyce travel to face Grange while Aberdeenshire are also on the road at Arbroath.

Watsonians, bidding to bounce back from a disappointing 2011 campaign, entertain Forfarshire.

Western Premier Division joint favourites Clydesdale and Uddingston are both at home on the first day of the new season.

Dale will start favourites to make a winning start against Stirling while Uddingston entertain derby rivals Drumpellier.

The fixtures were announced yesterday following Cricket Scotland’s decision to scrap the National League in favour of a regional set-up.

SCOTTISH CUP 2012

First round of group fixtures (to be played Saturday 21 April)

Group A: Dumfries v Weirs, Penicuik v Watsonians

Group B: Heriot’s v Ferguslie, Stirling v Edinburgh Accies

Group C: Grange v Renfrew, Uddingston v Fauldhouse

Group D: Forfarshire v Stenhousemuir, Ayr v Freuchie

Group E: Carlton v Poloc, Falkland v Greenock

Group F: Kelburne v Aberdeenshire, West Lothian v Drumpellier

Group G: Stoneywood-Dyce v East Kilbride, McCrea FS West v Corstorphine

Group H: Clydesdale v SMRH, Arbroath v Prestwick.

OPENING LEAGUE FIXTURES (12 May)

Eastern Premier Division

Arbroath v Aberdeenshire

Grange v Stoneywood-Dyce

Heriot’s v Carlton

Watsonians v Forfarshire

Western Premier Division

Ayr v McCrea FS West

Clydesdale v Stirling

Greenock v Dumfries

Uddingston v Drumpellier