Scottish Cricket: Crown likely to go West (20 August 1999)

20 August 1999

Scottish Cricket: Crown likely to go West

Keith Graham

West of Scotland look odds on to take the first Premiership title as the new Scottish National Cricket League nears its climax. Needing 27 points from their remaining two fixtures to be assured of the title, the Hamilton Crescent side are at home for both games.

Tomorrow, they face a Grange team who, after a disastrous start of four successive defeats, had occupied bottom place. Since then, Grange have lost only once and last week they roundly defeated Scottish Cup winners Ayr.

Aberdeenshire, the only team capable of overhauling West, face two away games, with tomorrow's visit to Boghall given extra bite by relegation-threatened West Lothian's equally desperate need for points.

International calls also rob Aberdeenshire of captain Neil MacRae, George Salmond and wicket-keeper batsman Colin Smith. West Lothian will be at full strength, Craig Wright having had to pull out of the three-day game against the Irish because he starts a new job on Monday.

Greenock, who have an outside chance of second place, include Phil Simmons in their line-up again when they face Carlton at Glenpark. Dene Hills, the popular Australian, is out for the rest of the season with a hamstring injury. The West Indian's presence will add interest to a game otherwise of little consequence and the Carlton players may be thankful that Kenny Godsman's first inquiry for a replacement professional was directed at Courtney Walsh, who turned out not to be available.

Lowly Ferguslie visit Ayr while Stoneywood Dyce need to defeat Heriot's at home to maintain any chance of retaining Premiership status.

Prestwick, needing only 10 points from their last two games to be assured of Premiership cricket next season, have a diificult journey to make to Watsonians tomorrow, especially as they will be minus Drew Parsons, Andy Tennant and now Martyn Hays, who replaces Wright in Belfast over the weekend. Clydesdale, missing skipper Greig Williamson, also in Belfast, need 19 points from their last two games to go up but they too have a difficult test at improving Forfarshire.

Second division leaders Stenhousemuir travel to Falkland while Uddingston and Stirling, second and third, receive Edinburgh Accies and Kelburne respectively.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)