Trio back in domestic action after racking up runs for Scotland XI
In-form batters George Munsey, Oli Hairs and Dylan Budge will all be in Eastern Premier Division action this afternoon having scored big runs for a Scotland XI on Thursday.
The internationalists were part of a Scottish team that took on Durham’s second XI in a 50-overs-a-side clash in Gateshead two days ago and their runs helped the visitors post a mammoth 455-5 batting first.
RH Corstorphine’s Munsey made 137 from 79 balls, Watsonians’ Hairs made 104 from 70 balls and Gen!us Grange’s Budge made 95 not out from 47 balls.
The Scotland XI bowlers were then on fire too to bowl out their hosts for 98 and record a 357-run triumph.
Today Munsey’s sixth-placed RH Corstorphine welcome third-placed ion8 Forfarshire to Barnton.
Hairs’ Watsonians, in fourth, are on a run of nine wins in a row in all competitions and they host leaders Heriot’s as the two old rivals play for the 1896 Cup for the first time.
The Watsonians-heriot’s matches have now been going for 125 years and both clubs have decided to mark the landmark by introducing the new piece of silverware into the mix.
Budge’s Grange are second in the table as they head to seventh-placed Arbroath.
Fifth-placed Carlton have been boosted by the availability of skipper Ali Evans for their home meeting with eighth-placed Meigle.
There is a big game at the bottom at Inverleith, ninth-placed Stewart’s Melville hosting 10th-placed Stoneywood Dyce.
Stirling and Dumfries have a recent history of tight matches and it could be close again today as the pair vie for places near the top of the table in the Western Premier.
Remarkably these two have had three tied matches in recent seasons and both go into their clash at New Williamfield boasting encouraging form. The home side are bidding for a fourth straight victory, an outcome which could see them emerge as genuine title contenders.
Dumfries, meanwhile, have managed two wins from their first four matches and a third would signal more progress.
Stirling skipper Matt Tweedie said: “It’s important that we take advantage of the good form that we’ve been in durleaders ing the last few weeks and put up another performance.
“We just need to focus on maintaining that consistent standard week on week and see where it takes us.”
Elsewhere, there is a battle within a battle when the division’s top two wicket-takers face each other – all the more fascinating since one is Prestwick’s Majid Haq and the other his younger cousin Taimoor Ahmad - as Ferguslie visit the Henry Thow Oval.
Clydesdale are favourites to win their firstever top-flight derby against Langside when they make the short trip to Albert Park.
Greenock would be content simply with a first win but that won’t come easily against a West of Scotland side who travel to Glenpark bidding to bounce back from defeat to Clydesdale. Champions Uddingston have the chance to make it three consecutive wins when they visit Poloc.