Watt turns power on to put Heriot’s back in contention

HERIOT’S are back in the CSL Eastern Premiership title race and are set to take on leaders Arbroath tomorrow.

Last weekend they won against Watsonians to stay in third spot and Arbroathwere losing at home to Aberdeenshire.

Second placed Grange also won at Forfarshire and it could well now be a three horse race.

With a re-jigged batting line-up at Myreside, Heriot’s lost Richard Cummine and Michael Evans early to leave them 25-2, but Hayes van der Berg and Mark Watt, pictured, then put together a useful partnership before the former was out for 50.

By drinks they had reached 95-3 and Peter Ross was now the man taking the attack to ‘Sonians. The Heriot’s player/coach passed his half century and went on make a very useful 80 with good support from Craig Mackellar who made 35.

All of that meant that they posted 242-7 and they would have felt that that was a good total on a day when the weather was changeable.

After the calculations were done at the midway point Watsonians needed 224 from 40 overs to win.

However, they came up against a Heriot’s attack who had Scotland spinner Watt leading the charge.

He took 4-31 meaning that 60 from home skipper Ewan Chalmers and 43 from wicketkeeper Andy Hislop could not help them to a third win in six days in various competitions over their old rivals. The whole of the WDCU Premier Division card was ruled out last weekend while on Saturday leaders Prestwick are on the road to Uddingston and second placed Ferguslie are at home to last year’s champions Clydesdale in what should be an intriguing affair. Last Friday night, George Munsey played one of the best innings ever seen in a Murgitroyd Masterton Trophy final as Watsonians defeated Heriot’s in a thriller at Grange Loan. The Scotland cap made 118 off just 51 balls, hitting eight fours and 11 sixes. Steve Knox did his best to lead Heriot’s reply with 78, but in the end ‘Sonians won by 22 runs. In the T20 encounter, batting first Munsey reached his 50 off just 29 balls with a six. In the 13th over Munsey was on fire, 32 coming off six balls from Ryan Brown. And it continued, the 24-year-old reaching his century off 42 balls before Brown bowled him. In the end ‘Sonians posted 211-4 from their 20 overs. In reply, Heriot’s made a good fight of it, but eventually finished on 189 all out. Meanwhile, Carlton Womenwere on top form against RH Corstorphine to clinch the CDD National Premier League title. The Grange Loan side went into the home match on Sunday knowing that a victory would see them back up last year’s Division One triumph in the revamped league. They batted first and made 149-6 from their 30 overs and the visitors were 55 all out in the 19th over as Carlton won this one by 94 runs.