RH Corstorphine show plenty promise

● Grange open up lead at the top of the table again after Heriot’s falter

Royal High Corstorphine have been solid rather than spectacular in their maiden season in the top flight. But they can use the campaign as a springboard to greater things.

Take Saturday’s comprehensive triumph over Aberdeenshire for example. RHC player/ coach Majid Haq insisted the win at Barnton was highly significant.

“Aberdeenshire are one of the biggest and successful clubs in the country, so for us to beat them in this manner was a fantastic achievement,” Haq said.

RHC’S tally of 157 all out was far from daunting, but they were clinical with the ball as they mopped up the Dons for only 81, with Haq claiming three wickets.

With Heriot’s coming a surprise cropper at the hands of Carlton, Grange accounted for Watsonians at Myreside to re-establish their lead at the head of the Eastern Premiership title race.

A marvellous knock of 95 by Dylan Budge paved the way for Grange to reach 260 for seven. Neil Mccallum and Andrew Brock then shared seven wickets to dismiss Watsonians for 178. Mike Carson (80) was the only batsman to offer resistance.

Tom Simpson emerged as

0 Carlton’s Shivamm Gupta celebrates bowling Hayes Van Der Berg of Heriot’s on Saturday.

the star of the Carlton show, hitting 62 not out to steer his side home after Heriot’s had posted 180 for eight.

The most tense tussle of the weekend was at Gilvenbank, where Arbroath dug deep to deny Glenrothes their first league win of the summer. Needing 209, Glens looked good on 88 without loss – only for rookies Shaun Christie and Chris Robb to turn the tide.

First, Craig Ramsay removed Zed Ahmad before Robb grabbed the scalps of pro Ben Wilkinson and Scotland star Saffy Sharif in quick succession – all for the addition of no runs.

Though the Fifers recovered to a degree, Christie made sure of the six-run victory for Arbroath with three wickets.

As expected, Forfarshire were too strong for Stewart’s Melville, routing them for 90

at Forthill and surging to the target in the 14th over.

In the Western Premier, West ofscotlandclinchedadramatic win over Greenock to leave the Glenpark side mired in a survival dogfight.

Having dismissed Greenock for 143 West moved smoothly to 133-6, but no-one could have foreseen the nail-biting drama that was about to unfold.

Instead of driving home their advantage, West contrived to lose three wickets with scores tied as home skipper Neil Flack dismissed Blaal Hussain, Tony Hulatt and Dave Mcnulty in quick succession.

With just one run needed for victory and only one wicket remaining Nick Boller drove the ball straight to mid-wicket where the catch was dropped and the batsmen scampered the winning single.

Greenock have slipped back

intotherelegationplaceswhile Dumfries jumped two places from bottom spot after an excellent win over Prestwick at Nunholm. Having elected to bowl first, Dumfries were rewarded when Scott Beveridge’s 4-23 helped restrict the reigning champions to 143, only Sachin Chaudhary offering a meaningful contribution with 57. Chris Bellwood dominated the Dumfries response, carrying his bat for a fine 86 as the hosts won by six wickets.

Ayr are bottom after they were unable to halt Ferguslie’s inexorable charge to the title at Cambusdoon. Batting first, the Paisley team posted an imposing 281-6. Ayr were dismissed for 127.

Polocwentdownbyfivewickets to Clydesdale at Shawholm but Stirling maintained their excellent form with a 13-run win over Uddingston. Grange last night held their nerve to claim a place in cricket’s showpiece occasion as Ferguslie’s hopes of a home Scottish Cup final were dashed.

The semi-final clash between the respective leaders of the Eastern and Western Premier divisions ultimately went in favour of the Edinburgh team – but only after an epic battle which could have gone either way until Grange clinched a tense three-wicket win in the final over.

Michael English stroked a fantastic century – his second in consecutive cup innings – as Ferguslie, having opted to bat, recorded 273 from their 50 overs.

The Paisley side lost Gregor Preston-jones and Elliot Moses early on but a solid third-wicket stand between English and Riyaad Henry put them back on course.

English was run out for 109, while Henry, on 93, also departed as Grange fought back to restrict the visitors to 43 runs from their final eight overs.

The Grange run-chase was rocked when Greg Cameron struck twice and Hamza Tahir once to reduce the hosts to 55-3.

However, the experienced duo of Dylan Budge and Preston Mommsen refused to panic and produced a stand which kept their side in touch with the required run-rate.

When Budge was caught by Taimoor Ahmed off Ferguslie skipper Jamey Carruthers, former Scotland star Neil Mccallum produced a rapid 77 to tilt the balance in the home side’s favour.

But it was left to a star of the future to make the final decisive contribution when, with 11 runs needed off the final over, Durham Academy recruit Tom Mackintosh delivered for his side while Mommsen remained unbeaten on 90.

Grange will face capital rivals Heriot’s in the final at Meikleriggs next month after they produced an equally impressive run-chase to beat Arbroath at Goldenacre.

Needing 288, Heriot’s suffered a double setback when both overseas players departed with just 34 on the board.

However, cool heads were again evident as Chris Ashforth and Michael Shean provided the telling contributions in a five-wicket win.

Earlier, Shanuka Vithanawasam top-scored for Arbroath who bounced back from the early loss of Hayden Laing and Marc Petrie. The Sri Lankan anchored the innings with a composed 76 while the Burnett brothers, Fraser (63) and Calvin (31), were more expansive.