Scottish Cricket: Grange forced to fight on two fronts (28 Jul 1998)

28 July 1998

Scottish Cricket: Grange forced to fight on two fronts

By Keith Graham

It was a mixed weekend for Grange when, after scrambling a win at GHK by two wickets on Saturday, they found themselves having to field two teams on Sunday and ended up falling between two stools.

Their first team lost to Harrogate in the Abbot Ale Cup quarter-final in a game prolonged by inclement weather, while their second string went down to West Lothian in Conference A, slipping down to third place in the table as a result.

Fixture congestion caused by cup cricket is an annual problem and although Sunday's result is unlikely to be anything other than a blip in the Raeburn Place side's progress towards the First Division in the National League next season, it does seem futile that a top side should be reduced to having to field a second team in what might have been a key league fixture.

The Boghall side had, of course, punctured Heriot's hitherto immaculate record. Weather conditions had ensured that the game would be played on a slow, low wicket on which Heriot's struggled to of 129.

Steve Litster and Jamie Watkins provided the only meaningful stand, taking the score from 60 for five to 106 for six.

West Lothian seemed on course for victory as Craig Light stroked his way to 42 to take his side to 80 for three but his departure signalled a collapse and, when Shahid Aslam returned for a second spell, two wickets in his first over had them tottering until David Fleming and young Malcolm Raven got their heads down and played out the draw.

If the top three in Conference A seem to be almost home and dry, there is a real dog-fight going on in Conference C. Ayr seem assured of First Division status but the struggle for the other two top places is hotting up. Ferguslie comfortably beat Edinburgh Accies, but only 10 points separate them in third place from the four clubs below them.

Conference B leaders West of Scotland were held to a draw at Shawholm where Poloc ran up 221 for three, thanks to 91 from Brian Spence and 63 from Mohammed Ramzan.

Mike Allingham and Asim Butt return to Scotland's 12-man squad to face Australia 'A' at Forfar on Friday in the first of five one-day internationals to be played during the Scottish leg of their tour. Australia 'A' then travel to Aberdeen for a game against a Scotland XI on Sunday.

SCOTLAND (v Australia 'A', Forfar, Friday): G Salmond, capt, M Allingham, J Brinkley, A Butt, S Crawley, D Lockhart, B Patterson, K Sheridan, I Stanger, P Steindl, G Williamson, C Wright.

SCOTLAND XI (V Australia 'A', Aberdeen, Sunday): I Philip, capt, J Blain, B Lockie, G Maiden, K Sheridan, C Smith, M Smith, I Stanger, K Thomson, G Williamson, F Watts, C Wright.

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