SPORTBRIEFS

CRICKET

Jamie Crawley last night stepped up his bid for a full Scotland cap with a blistering century for the country’s second string at Lord’s. Crawley smashed 119 from 110 balls with 16 fours and three maximums as the Scots raced to a seven-wicket win over MCC at the home of cricket.

The Grange opener had superb support from Ayr player-coach Michael English who contributed 83 to a brilliant second wicket stand of 190.

Crawley and English helped the Scots surpass MCC’S 254-7 with 51 balls to spare in the 50-over clash.

CURLING

Edzell curler James Craik and his young team are unlikely to qualify for the quarter-finals after losing their penultimate group game at the Players Championship Grand Slam event in Toronto yesterday. The 2022 world junior champions counted two shots at the first end against Mike Mcewen’s rink, but the veteran Canadian had not lost all week and roared back to lead 5-2 at the halfway stage. A Mcewen three wrapped up an 8-3 win at the seventh end, and even victory over Matt Dunstone in his final Pool A match may not be enough for Craik to reach the knockout stages.

GOLF

DUNKELD AND BIRNAM – Seniors Taylor Trophy round 1 – M Maher 35pts, D Macdougall 30, D White 29, A Fleming, J Lakie, T Lindsay and J Tait 28.

SNOOKER

Perth snooker player Scott Donaldson produced a stirring fightback to keep his World Championship hopes alive at the qualifiers in Sheffield last night.

The 30-year-old trailed Leeds veteran Peter Lines 4-1, but Donaldson then rolled in breaks of 60, 54 and 50 to win the last three frames and finish all-square at 4-4 going into this afternoon’s deciding session.

The first player to 10 frames will advance to the penultimate qualifying round.