Grange get title vote

Acting Carlton captain Steve Gilmour is backing Grange to edge out City rivals Watsonians when the race for the Scottish cricket Premiership goes down to the wire on Saturday.

Grange head for Forfarshire holding a lead of 1.18 per cent but any slip could be punished by Watsonians at Dunfermline.

Grange have won the title five times since the present format was established in 2000 - Watsonians have never been champions.

Gilmour said: "I just feel that Grange know how to win. For me that will be the decisive factor."

Another influential figure tipping Grange is Neil McRae, skipper of Aberdeenshire who relinquish their crown.

McRae says: "Grange are the strongest all-round side in the country. Carlton might also have a claim but they have lost too many big players on too many occasions.

"You just need to look at the depth of Grange's batting line-up to realise what everyone else is up against. They still have one pretty tough game to go but I can't see anyone other than Grange replacing us as champions."

In the corresponding fixtures on home turf earlier this season both Watsonians and Grange were victorious.