Watsonians back on winning trail as brothers excel
WATSONIANS were able to take advantage with a display of sibling solidarity and a comprehensive victory as the CSL Eastern Premiership top-of-the-table clash between Arbroath and Grange was off last weekend.
At home to Glenrothes, Watsonians lost Andrew Learmonth early for seven, but fellow opener Brendan O’Connell hit 32 before he was out with the score on 58.
That meant that brothers Ewan and Andrew Chalmers were together at the crease and they proceeded to put together a superb 132-run partnership.
By that stage Ewan was on 72 and Andrew was on 46, and they looked set to kick on and take their side up to a very big total.
However, they fell in successive overs to Aamir Shahzad and Scott Lucas.
Aman Bailwal with 22, Andrew Fraser-Harris (17) and Dewald Nel (18) hit some vital late-innings runs as the home side posted 257-6.
Early on in the Glenrothes reply Andy McKay and Dewald Nel never let the visiting batsmen settle and they were soon 22-3.
The Fifers never recovered from that and were eventually all out for just 104.
Watsonians skipper Ewan Chalmers said: “We knew we had to get back to winning ways soon in the league and this was a good way to do it.
“It was good to bat with my younger brother for quite a long spell and he has been batting really well this season.”
At Forthill, Forfarshire posted 179-6 in 39 overs against Carlton.
In their reply Arun Pillai hit 40 not out, but wickets kept falling at regular intervals as the Grange Loan men were all out for 126 to go down by 53 runs.
SMRH restricted Aberdeenshire to 149-9 from their 35 overs at Mannofield.
Shaylen Pillay battled hard for a superb 81 in reply, but he ran out of batting partners as SMRH fell 14 runs short in their run chase.
This weekend leaders Grange are away to Aberdeenshire while second-placed Arbroath are also on the road at Glenrothes.
In the WDCU Premier Division, Ayr are now third after a good win over Clydesdale last weekend.
Andi McElnea, the captain, and his younger brother Scott claimed four wickets apiece to set up the victory as the visitors were bundled out for just 115.
Andi ended up with 4-20 from eight overs and Scott claimed 4-27 from his seven overs.
Ferguslie are top, but their match against Dumfries was off.
Second-placed Uddingston won at home against Kelburne.
The hosts found themselves in trouble on 35-3, however 38 from Harmanjit Singh blunted the Kelburne attack while Gavin Bradley performed a similar role with 51.
An unbeaten 22 from Ross Lyons then meant Uddingston made 152-8 from their 36 overs.
Kelburne’s top-order collapsed to 42-5 and they were all out for 99.
Ferguslie are at home to Greenock on Saturday, while those chasing them in the shape of Uddingston and Ayr are on the road to Dumfries and East Kilbride respectively.
Kelburne-Poloc and Prestwick’s trip to Clydesdale complete week eight of league fixtures.