Grange go it alone at top
THE last two 100 per cent records in the Eastern Premier Division were blown away yesterday, with Grange now top on their own following a thrilling draw with Aberdeenshire while Arbroath suffered their first loss at Glenrothes.
At Mannofield, Grange appeared to have taken complete command after reducing Shire to 18-3. Professional Lesiba Ngoepe was one of the men to depart, bowled for a duck by Gordon Goudie.
However, Chris Venske played a captain’s role as the home side rallied to make a real game of it. He was at one stage 80no in a total of 118-5 and went on to reach a superb 107-ball century with 11 boundaries and three maximums. Venske was out for 110 but he helped Shire post 238, giving his team a glimmer of hope. Grange, needing 84 from the last 20 overs and with six wickets in hand, were only able to score 83 of while losing four more wickets.
The loss of a handful of top-team regulars proved too big a handicap for Arbroath. Skipper Marc Petrie, bowlers Ross McLean and Craig Ramsay and batsman Fraser Burnett were among the absentees as the Lochlands men were bowled out for a meagre 112 at Gilvenbank, Amir Shahzad taking 4-22.
The visitors fought back to claim six Glenrothes wickets but Ben Wilkinson hit 44 as the Fifers consolidated a mid-table position. Michael Herdman’s century helped Carlton win their Edinburgh derby against Watsonians at Grange Loan.
The Australian’s unbeaten 108, featuring 12 boundaries and two maximums, guided the home side to 229-8 after they had been struggling on 137-7. Andy McKay claimed 3-51 for Sonians who then made a solid start to their reply.
However, when skipper Chayank Gosian struck twice in quick succession to remove Ewan Chalmers and his brother Andrew, Carlton seized control, eventually restricting their rivals to 192-7.
Heriot’s won the other capital derby, scoring 166 before dismissing SMRH for 114 at Goldenacre, while Falkland remain bottom after a 78-run defeat at Forfarshire.
Western Premier leaders Ferguslie continued their impressive start to the campaign as a Michael English century helped them to victory over Greenock at Meikleriggs.
The Scotland prospect stroked 119 as the Paisley side rattled up 275-8. His second-wicket stand of 150 with Riyaad Henry, who hit 72, was crucial against a Greenock attack who stuck to their task, Julian Hulbert claiming 4-55. In reply, the visitors were similarly dogged with the bat before ending 50 runs short.
Uddingston are hot on Ferguslie’s heels after a hard-fought win at
Dumfries where Ross Lyons and Bryan Clarke hit half-centuries as the visitors posted 201-7. A normally free-scoring Dumfries were then dismissed for 147.
Ayr remain firmly in contention but were forced to win the hard way at East Kilbride. Sent in to bat, Ayr lost their two leading run scorers, Neil Smith and Michael Papps, cheaply as Kess Sajjad struck a double blow.
However, a 69-run stand for the fifth wicket between Matthew Crawshaw and Michael Miller, who both hit 37, put Ayr on course for a challenging 178-8 and skipper Andi McElnea then claimed 5-21 to dismiss East Kilbride for 107.
Kelburne lost by eight wickets against Poloc at Whitehaugh. After winning the toss and electing to bowl, Poloc were soon on top. Two wickets from Jurie Snyman helped reduce Kelburne to 18-3 before a 66-run stand between Omer Hussain and Bradley Joynt.
However, when Joynt was dismissed by teenager Ahmed-Raza Hanif for 43, the home side quickly subsided to 121 all out, another youngster, Lewis James, cleaning up with 3-13. Owais Shah led the run-chase with 57no while Louis Geldenhuys made 44.
Clydesdale’s hopes of a successful title defence appear to be over after a fourth defeat, this time against Prestwick at Titwood.