Grange beat Heriot's to win Scottish Cup final

It was a case of another week and another success yesterday for Grange as they cruised to Scottish Cup final glory against Heriot's at Portgower Place.

Gordon Goudie and Neil McCallum celebrate Grange's Citylets Scottish Cup final win over Heriots. Picture: Ger Harley

Seven days after clinching the Cricket Scotland Grand Final and three weeks on from being crowned Eastern Premier champions, the Stags confirmed their status as Scotland’s pre-eminent club.

While last week it was John Blain whose five wickets destroyed Ferguslie, yesterday Gordon Goudie produced an all-round display which was just too good for the Goldenacre side.

Twice postponed at Meikleriggs, Paisley, the showpiece match was switched to Grange’s home ground and finally went ahead at the third time of asking. Any perceived advantage for Grange may have been offset when Heriot’s won the toss and elected to bat on a wicket which traditionally favours the stroke-players.

However, former Saltires star Goudie turned back the clock with a vintage display of seam bowling.

He accounted for Elnathan Meiri and the in-form Michael Shean with consecutive deliveries as Heriot’s were reduced to 30-3 from six overs.

It got even better for Grange when Goudie found the edge of Hayes van der Berg’s bat and Harris Carnegie completed an agile tumbling catch.Van der Berg, the Eastern Premier’s highest scorer during the regular season, made just 19 and his departure was a massive blow.

Goudie went on to complete his ten-over stint with superb figures of 4-10, paving the way for the spinners to complete the job.

Teenage left-armer Charlie Peet picked up 3-25 while Andrew Brock claimed two scalps as the Heriot’s innings petered out. Ryan Brown was their top scorer with a battling 20 but a meagre 106 from 43 overs was never likely to prove sufficient.

So it proved as Goudie and Ryan Flannigan came flying out the blocks to reach 37-0 after five overs.

The latter holed out for 21 off the bowling of Sean Weeraratna while Shean removed Nick Farrar as Heriot’s gained some consolation.

However, they had no answer to man-of-the-match Goudie who reached a hard-hitting half-century and sealed Grange’s commanding eight-wicket win by sweeping a maximum to finish unbeaten on 65.

At the other end, former Scotland batsman Neil McCallum savoured the moment before walking off the field for the last time, having earlier announced his retirement.

n Heriot’s can earn some consolation today in the Murgitroyd T20 Cup finals day at Titwood. They take on Kelso in the semi-final, the winner to play Forfarshire in the final, the Broughty Ferry side having yesterday beaten Stirling in the first semi-final.