East premier cricket: In-form Edwards back for Grange

Teenager Will Edwards comes into the Grange team for this afternoon’s Cricket Scotland Eastern Premier Division clash with Forfarshire on the back of a century for the second XI.

Thirteen days ago Edwards, whose older brother Henry is in Australia with the Scotland under-19s, hit 44 not out as Grange defeated Dumfries in the quarter-final of the CS Trophy.

And seven days ago he smashed three figures as the second XI defeated Watsonians second XI at Myreside in East League One, so he will be buzzing as he returns to top team action.

Edwards replaces the unavailable Andrew Brock in the Grange line-up with captain Neil McCallum and his team heading to Broughty Ferry knowing that victory is necessary to keep the pressure on league leaders Watsonians.

With Brock out Gregor Maiden will take the main spinner role in the side with Arun Pillai still keeping wicket.

With just four matches remaining Grange sit second in the table and McCallum said: “We were disappointed with the way we played a fortnight ago against Watsonians, so I was pleased with the reaction of the guys in the win over Aberdeenshire last week.

“At training this week we have been talking and we know that we probably have to win our last four matches if we are to have any chance of topping the division, so we have to be on top form.

“Going to Forfarshire is never easy and although they are currently bottom of the table you only have to look at their teamsheet to realise it will be a tough match.”

The home side come into this one on the back of a 130-run defeat to Arbroath last week and they know that an improved performance will be needed against Grange.

At Grange Loan third-place Carlton take on leaders Watsonians in a cracking Edinburgh derby.

The hosts go into the match with overseas amateur Michael Herdman in great form after he took three for 21 and scored a quick-fire 61 not out opening the batting seven days ago at Stoneywood-Dyce.

Left-arm seamer Herdman bowled a fiery and troublesome spell against Watsonians in the corresponding fixture earlier in the summer and is likely to open the bowling again.

Carlton also have the Murgitroyd T20 finals day tomorrow.

Batsman James Easton returns in place of seamer Alec Sim in the one change to the ‘Sonians side that stayed unbeaten with victory over Heriot’s last week.

Easton was part of a 62-run partnership with Dewald Nel that helped Watsonians to defeat Carlton back in June at Myreside. With the club still aiming for a league and Scottish Cup double he will be keen to play his part in the run-in.

Elsewhere in the division this afternoon Arbroath take on Stoneywood-Dyce and Heriot’s visit Aberdeenshire.

At Lochlands sixth-place Arbroath will be looking to build on last week’s win and put an even bigger gap between themselves and Forfarshire at the bottom while Aberdeenshire and Heriot’s both know they will need improved performances from last weekend.