CRICKET ROUND-UP

In reply, Dale lost Mo Awais for an attractive 34, but Carl Huyser’s unbeaten 46 carried them home. This is a big season for Haq as he adjusts to life as an amateur player following the loss of his Cricket Scotland contract. “I’ll try to do my talking on the park and see what happens,” he remarked. Elsewhere, there was, arguably, an even more remarkable bounce-back from Ayr who, having been dismissed for 82 a week earlier, produced a record-breaking batting performance in their victory over Stenhousemuir at Cambusdoon. The Alloway men posted a mammoth 346-2. That score featured an opening stand of 215 between Neil Smith and Michael Papps, an Ayr club record for the first wicket. Former New Zealand batsman Papps flayed the bowling for a destructive 121 from only 87 deliveries while Smith carried his bat for an unbeaten 149 from 154 balls. To their credit, Stenhousemuir replied with an impressive 274-6 of which Rushdi Jappie made 107. Prestwick managed their second win in a row after bringing Dumfries down to earth with a five-wicket success at the Henry Thow Oval with Kelburne defeating East Kilbride. Brock declared: “The big difference was in the batting, which featured a fantastic century by Preston Mommsen. It was a wonderful knock and he didn’t offer a single chance. “Raj Routray and Harris Aslam both bowled with control and accuracy to stave off any chance of an Arbroath challenge. The loss to Carlton showed that the lads needed a wake-up call.” Nick Farrar and Ryan Flannigan had built the ideal platform with an opening stand of 65 before the former was snapped up by Craig Cameron off Greig Peal. That brought Mommsen to the crease, and he dominated the home attack to reach 107 not out. Flannigan (87) and latterly Neil McCallum provided stout support as the visitors strolled to 262 for two. Chris Sole further dented Arbroath’s aspirations by removing Jack Waller and Fraser Burnett before the reply had even reached double figures. Then Routray (two for 21) and Aslam (three for 20) tightened the stranglehold as they limped to 119 all out in the 36th over. Carlton and Watsonians share top spot in the division in the wake of their convincing wins at the expense of newly-promoted Glenrothes and struggling Stoneywood-Dyce respectively. At Grange Loan, former Scotland rugby star Hugo Southwell was again in sparkling form – though he would have been frustrated to perish just four adrift of a ton – as the home side posted 252 all out. At 95 for one, Glenrothes looked on course for a shock success, but the Carlton attack remained consistent and wickets began to tumble. When main-man Chris Greaves departed for 81, the challenge was over and they were shot out for 222.