Grange close the gap at top thanks to Foulds heroics
GRANGE’S defeat of Arbroath last weekend kept the CSL Eastern Premiership title race alive with two fixtures left to play.
The Edinburgh side knew they had to win the top of the table clash at Portgower Place and they were in ruthless form from the outset.
Arbroath won the toss and decided to bat, but it soon looked like the wrong decision with Gordon Goudie, James Tapper and John Blain putting them under pressure.
Goudie and Blain went wicketless, but they conceded just 28 runs between them and Kiwi Tapper took 3-28.
Tapper had taken the first wicket of the day, Brendan Ford being caught by Tom Foulds, and when the latter came into the attack he had Hayden Laing caught by Goudie and Arbroath were 57-2.
Vice-captain Ross McLean was then run out smartly by Neil McCallum for 29 and Arbroath’s innings subsided from there.
Before the start of play 26-yearold all-rounder Foulds had just three league wickets to his name in 2017, but now he has seven after he finished with figures of 4-24.
As well as Foulds and Tapper, Andrew Brock and Neil McCallum also grabbed wickets as Arbroath were all out for 113, Fraser Burnett top scoring with 32.
In reply Grange switched things around a bit, opening the batting with the new pairing of Nick Farrar and Gordon Goudie to try and get off to a quick start.
Goudie made a quick 15 before he was first out, bowled by Elton Willemse.
Captain Preston Mommsen then joined Farrar at the wicket and they progressed things nicely to 63 before the latter was out to Willemse for 37.
Mommsen and Neil McCallum, the side's two best batsmen, then came together and put on a 51-run partnership, finishing on 38 and 18 not out to see the capital men home by eight wickets.
The result means that Arbroath are still top, but only just and Grange and Heriot’s still have a chance to lift the trophy come August 26.
This Saturday Arbroath will look to bounce back at home to Glenrothes while Grange are hosting Aberdeenshire and Heriot’s take the short trip to SMRH.
Falkland have been relegated while on Sunday two teams from the East meet in the Citylets Scottish Cup final.
Carlton take on Watsonians in the showpiece match at Forfarshire’s Forthill ground.
Meanwhile, in the WDCU Premier Division leader Prestwick are showing no signs of faltering.
Fraser Macdonald made 71 and Tom Fleet 56 as Prestwick posted 242-8 last weekend against Greenock.
Scotland hopeful Mitchell Rao then took 5-24 as Greenock were dismissed for 193.
Second placed Ferguslie looked to have blown things when they posted just 65 all out against Dumfries on the same day.
However, their bowlers were on top form, Riyaad Henry taking 4-13 while Greg Cameron and skipper Jamie Carruthers both taking two wickets and Michael English, who had earlier top-scored for his team with 27, securing two brilliant runouts.
This Saturday Prestwick host Clydesdale with Ferguslie at Greenock.