Sandy Strang: Preston Mommsen on the rise

WELL DONE, Preston Mommsen. Scotland's dismal run of seven successive CB40 defeats has overshadowed the emergence of the precociously explosive ex-Heriot's batsman.

Mommsen, who initially came to Scotland from Natal on a rugby and cricket scholarship to Gordonstoun, having represented South Africa Schools at both sports, was the first schoolboy in the UK to reach 1,000 runs in 2006.

He's since turned himself into an aggressive middle-order performer of considerable class and consistency. Against the County pros this season Mommsen, nicknamed 'The Heat', has so far notched 311 runs at a grand average of 62.2, highlighted by last week's undefeated 81 at the County Ground, Northants, topping an earlier unbeaten hand of 73 at Chester-le-Street against Durham.

Even more impressive in a side frequently accused of becoming terminally bogged down mid-innings has been the 23-year-old Carlton player's strike rate, a deeply impressive 108. Here's a young man on the way up - and fast.