Waller gets call-up for title-chasing Arbroath

TEENAGE batsman Jack Waller, fresh from playing for Scotland under-17s in the ICC Challenge Series against the Netherlands and Ireland, is brought into the Arbroath team for today’s crucial CSL Eastern Premiership match with Watsonians.

With just two league matches left, Arbroath are still second behind Aberdeenshire and know they need two wins if they are to retain their title.

They are pushing the men from the Granite City hard though and last week’s dominant 192-run win over SMRH stated their intent.

Arbroath skipper Marc Petrie said: “All we can do is keep winning our matches and see what happens, we cannot worry about what Aberdeenshire are doing. A fortnight ago it was obviously frustrating to have the match against Aberdeenshire curtailed by rain, but we can’t do much about the Scottish weather.”

With Craig Ramsay – who took four wickets last time out – and Greig Peal unavailable, Petrie has taken the decision to bring in Waller amongst those called up.

It will be interesting to see how the teenager does at this level and is a good test for him.

Watsonians travel to Lochlands on the back of a defeat to Carlton last week, but they did win this fixture last season when 61 from Brendan O’Connell and 43 from Andy Learmonth saw them over the line.

Leaders Aberdeenshire were in equally ruthless form as Arbroath last week against Stoneywood/Dyce and today they can move a step closer to glory.

They are on the road to Scottish Cup finalists Mazars Grange and it promises to be an intriguing encounter.

The home side are missing George Munsey (playing) and Simon Smith (coaching) on Scotland duty while Andrew Brock is unavailable.

The three replacements are pretty useful though in the shape of Gregor Maiden, who will keep wicket, Henry Edwards and Tom Sole.

Should they end up batting first, Grange supporters would be forgiven for watching the opening overs through their fingers given that when the sides met earlier in the season they were 11-7 at one point.

Aberdeenshire should have key batsman Chris Venske in their line-up after he returned from injury quicker than expected to play last week.

Fourth placed Carlton host Heriot’s at Grange Loan, while Falkland take on Autoecosse Forfarshire with the away side keen for a win to take away any lingering relegation fears.

Meanwhile, SMRH’s bottom place finish could be confirmed if they were to lose out at home to Stoneywood/Dyce.