It’s an underdog’s life for Drumpellier in quest for final

DRUMPELLIER have caused shock waves by reaching the Citylets Scottish Cup semi-finals – and now they are determined to give it their all on Sunday in a bid to make the final.

The WDCU Division One side dumped Grange out of the competition last weekend in the last eight and now travel to Carlton.

Club captain Gordon Shaw said: “Grange had been flying high at the top of the CSL Eastern Premiership, so we knew it was going to be tough, but we did have some belief particularly with it being at home.

“We made 143 and then they needed 134 via DLS and at one point it looked like they were getting away from us, but youngster Zeeshan Aziz picked up the two wickets to win the game, it was an unbelievable feeling.

“Zeeshan has been excellent for us, he is only 17 and already has a number of wickets in the Cup and a half century.

“Like every other round, we go into the Carlton game as huge underdogs and that suits us. We are not expected to win and don’t have home advantage this time so it is going to be difficult, but that is our motivation and we fight hard as we have done in every other round.

“It is good for the club as we have a rich history in terms of the Scottish Cup.”

Carlton captain Ali Evans took six wickets as they defeated Poloc to progress to the semi-finals.

The day did not start well for Carlton in their quarter-final at Shawholm, being bowled out for just 152. In-form Michael Herdman battled hard for 43, but they knew it was going to have to be a great bowling performance to win.

And that came thanks to the brilliance of Scotland man Evans, taking the first four Poloc wickets to leave them in trouble. The rest of the attack backed Evans up and Poloc were 133 all out in the end.

Heriot’s and Watsonians meet in the other semi-final on Sunday.

Before that, there is league action across the country on Saturday and Arbroath are still out on top in the CSL Eastern Premiership after a comfortable victory over Falkland last weekend.

Grange are second after a victory at Heriot’s, while Mike Carson continued his amazing run of form with the bat.

The Watsonians man hit 126, meaning that in his last four innings in 50 over matches he has scored 116 (for the second XI), 167, 96 not out and 126, equalling 505 runs.

On Saturday Arbroath are at ninthplaced SMRH with Grange hosting reigning champions Carlton.

Prestwick are the new WDCU Premier Division leaders after a weekend of twists and turns last time out.

Their hard-fought win at Kelburne, coupled with Uddingston losing to Greenock, put them at the summit. And Ayr’s comfortable victory over Dumfries has left them in second.

On Saturday, Prestwick are on the road to Dumfries with Ayr at Ferguslie and Uddingston at home to Poloc.