Tough at the top as front four runners in Premiership all lose

THE SNCL Premier Division title race took another few twists and turns on Saturday with the top four teams all losing during a remarkable afternoon's cricket.

Watsonians, top of the table at the start of the weekend, lost at Aberdeenshire meaning that despite a second last ball loss to Clydesdale, Grange went top of the table again after picking up two bonus points.

Dunfermline Knights would have hoped to capitalise on the top two's losses, but they were thumped at home by Uddingston while Carlton's poor run went on at home to Forfarshire.

Watsonians headed to Mannofield without Ewan Chalmers who had been called into the Scotland squad late on Friday night, and the hosts posted a useful 262-6 batting first.

Kiwi Michael Parlane top scored with 62 and he was given good support by an unbeaten 56 from Kenny Reid. The league's top wicket taker Stuart Chalmers took two wickets, as did Vijay Saisubramanian.

In reply Watsonians started well against an Aberdeenshire attack missing strike bowler Tyler Buchan, also called up by Scotland, but were dealt a blow when James Easton was run out for 42.

Pro Tim Weston went on to hit 101, his second century of the summer, but no batsmen from No 5 downwards could reach double figures and they were all out for 229. Richie Lamb took four wickets for the hosts.

At Raeburn Place openers Zulfi Shahid and Kamran Sajid set Clydesdale up for an impressive away win against Grange.

Batting first, teenager Oli Hairs had got the hosts off to a good start with 45 from 49 balls. Captain Sanjay Patel (68) and Mike Powell (66 not out) were then the mainstays, although their 234-5 always looked a bit light.

Shahid and Sajid batted sensibly and put on 159 together until the former was caught behind off the bowling of Powell for 71. There were then a couple of wobbles, and when Sajid was out for 90, 12 runs were still needed. Eventually Omer Hussain and Craig Smith saw the visitors home with one ball to spare.

At McKane Park Dunfermline Knights were bowled out for just 66 by a rampant Uddingston, the side that also defeated the Fifers in the Scottish Cup earlier this summer.

On Saturday Paul Hoffman took 3-11, while skipper Ricky Bawa took 3-29 including the key wicket of Alistair Gray for ten as the home support were left stunned.

In reply Uddingston, who are now up to fifth, knocked off the runs with a minimum of fuss to win by eight wickets, and they will be looking forward to welcoming Grange to Bothwell Castle this coming weekend.

Captain Ryan Watson and vice- captain Umair Mohammed both scored half centuries to lead Forfarshire to victory at Carlton.

Watson (52) and Mohammed (55) were well supported by 38 from young talent Craig Wallace as well as a disastrous 45 extras gifted by the Carlton bowlers as the visitors made 221 all out. The recalled Mohammed Habib took 3-57 for Carlton.

Cedric English was the mainstay of the Carlton reply with 62, but once he fell to Graeme Black and then Jamie Kerr (24) went to the same bowler the very next ball, any hopes of a win were gone. Eventually they were 139 all out, Black finishing with 3-16.

In the clash at the bottom, Netherlands international Muhammad Kashif hit 54 and overseas amateur Neil Bisman made 47 as McCrea FS West defeated Greenock.

Captain Kevin McLaren scored 59 as Greenock posted 177-9 at Glenpark, but the sensible batting by the visiting duo saw their team home by three wickets.