Watsonians bowlers praised after pinning down Grange batsmen

With four top-team players missing and having been dismissed for just 164 it looked as if the visitors were heading for a second defeat of the season against their Edinburgh rivals. However, some superb bowling from the six bowlers used meant that leaders Grange fell ten runs short of the 166 needed under the Duckworth/Lewis method following a mid-match rain shower.

The result leaves Watsonians second behind Grange with two matches coming up this weekend against Clydesdale and the National Academy and Easton, who made 33 opening the batting, said: "The bowlers did really well to keep us in the contest and they never let Grange get away from us. The pressure was always on the Grange batsmen and when the bowlers needed to come up with the goods they produced.

"This was a big win and hopefully we can use it as a confidence booster for the rest of the summer."

Easton and Andy Learmonth put together a 50 partnership for 'Sonians batting first, but once they were out it was left to pro Tim Weston to anchor the innings. The Kiwi made 59, but the visitors could only make 164 with Neil McCallum and Andy Wilson taking three wickets apiece for Grange.

In reply Mike Powell top scored with 34 for the hosts, but he was bowled by spinner Vijay Saisubramanian and 'Sonians kept themselves in the match with other spinner Ross Paxton bowling ten overs for just 22 runs. In the end Grange needed 15 from the final over bowled by seamer Raj Routray and he kept it very tight as the visitors were victorious by nine runs.

Third placed Forfarshire's young guns were on top of their game as they saw off Uddingston at Forthill.

Scotland seamer Matthew Parker took three wickets as Uddingston were restricted to 204-9, pro Ras Priyadarshana top scoring with 59 for the visitors.

National Academy player Craig Wallace then led the way with 87 not out for Forfarshire and Parker made 37 as the Broughty Ferry side made it home with seven wickets in hand.

McCrea FS West's poor summer continued when they were skittled out for just 78 by Dunfermline Knights at Hamilton Crescent.

Vasu Reddy claimed 4-11 and South African Alistair Gray took 3-7 to see the hosts collapse.Dunfermline's run chase was merely a formality and Gray led the way with 30 not out in a professional showing by the Fifers. Greenock's woes also continued with their tenth league defeat of the season, this time to Carlton.

The Carlton side travelled to Glenpark on a high having won the Murgitroyd Masterton Trophy on Friday evening and their bowlers were on top form.

Experienced seamer Cedric English led the way with 3-21, while Charles Legget took two as captain Kevin McLaren top scored with 24 in Greenock's poor 124 all out.

Carlton openers Fraser Watts (59 not out) and Preston Mommsen (44 not out) put on a century partnership, as they had done for Scotland against Ireland seven days previously, to guide them to an away win by ten wickets.

A superb 117 from Scotland man Omer Hussain led Clydesdale to a win over Aberdeenshire at Mannofield.

The century was augmented by 65 from Kamran Sajid as 266-6 proved to be 31-runs too many for the hosts despite 83 from Kiwi Michael Parlane in reply.