Munsey pushes boundaries with a 220
GEORGE Munsey rewrote the record books yesterday as Watsonians rattled up the runs in a one-side Eastern Premier clash at Falkland.
Scotland star Munsey, who earlier in the month notched a maiden first-class century in the Intercontinental Cup fixture with Namibia, continued his form to score an astonishing double century.
His boundary-laden 220 from only 120 balls is the highest individual score in top-flight domestic cricket in the modern era while Watsonians’ total of 440-3 is also a new team high. Munsey had superb support from Mike Carson whose 167 would have been the highest individual tally of the season but for Munsey’s heroics.
As it was, the 378-run partnership for the third wicket between the pair is a new league record.
The home bowling figures made sorry reading and their batsmen fared little better, dismissed for 124 as Carson completed a memorable all-round display with 4-39.
Munsey’s efforts overshadowed events elsewhere – a shame for Glenrothes who recorded a win over previously unbeaten Grange at Portgower Place. Safyaan Sharif top-scored with 95 as the Fifers posted an imposing 290 before Grange never threatened the target. Grange’s defeat means there are new leaders after Arbroath won against Carlton at Lochlands.
Chasing 144, the home side needed a steady 39 from skipper Marc Petrie before edging home with just two wickets to spare.
Chris Greaves hit 52no and Craig Wallace 49 as Forfarshire continued their ascent of the table with an easy eight-wicket win over SMRH at Inverleith. Hayes van der Berg returned to Mannofield to haunt his old Aberdeenshire mates, the South African scoring 46 and claiming 3-15 as Heriot’s won by 35 runs.
The top match in the Western Premier was briefly held up when a sightscreen was blown over at blustery Bothwell Castle Policies. Uddingston’s Ross Lyons then blew up a storm of his own with an unbeaten century against Ferguslie.
Walking to the middle with his team wobbling on 77-3, the former Scotland spinner propelled his team to 242-7. Having made his intentions clear by smiting a straight six off Greg Cameron, Lyons fittingly reached three figures with another maximum from the final ball of Uddingston’s innings to finish 102no.
In reply Ferguslie made a steady start, putting on 46 for the first wicket, before Gregor Preston-Jones departed for 25.
It sparked the beginning of the end for the Paisley side who capitulated to 132 all out, in the process losing top spot to their hosts for whom Lyons completed a day to remember with 5-17.
Ayr remain firmly in title contention after a Michael Papps century helped them post 304-6 against Kelburne at Cambusdoon.
Papps made 117 before the visitors failed in their bid for a first win of the season, falling 77 runs short.
Prestwick produced a solid batting display to reach 300-8 and set up a 133-run win over East Kilbride at the Henry Thow Oval.
Owais Shah was another centurion, the Poloc man hitting 136no from 126 balls in a six-wicket win over Dumfries at Shawholm.