Scottish Cricket: Watts frustrates West (11 Aug 1998)

11 August 1998

Scottish Cricket: Watts frustrates West

Electronic Telegraph

THE youthful endeavours of Carlton's Fraser Watts, 19, frustrated the experienced West of Scotland line-up in their top of Conference B clash on Saturday.

Having lost Alastair Storie and Craig Wright to injury problems and overseas amateur Shane Stanton to a bout of homesickness, captain Mark Townson called up David Snodgrass, who retired two seasons ago.

The veteran all-rounder did not let him down, either. After two quick wickets had fallen, Corey Richards and Alan Williamson staged a recovery but, when both went in quick succession, Snodgrass, coming in at 84 for four, held the innings together.

Belying the fact that he had managed just one appearance in the nets, he used all his experience to gather an unbeaten 30 to steer his team to a 52 over total of 147 for seven, Cedric English and Craig Bulloch each taking three wickets.

With Bryn Lockie finishing his week as it had started, with a duck, the home team soon slumped to 24 for three. From the outset however, Watts whose form has already won him a Scottish cap this season, took the attack to the bowlers, driving and pulling with a confidence belying his tender years. In the end, he alone stood between a comfortable West win and the draw he managed to eke out.

While Mark Gilchrist (5-18) was turning the other batsmen inside out, Watts always looked in command and took the brunt of the bowling as, with last man Richard Waites, he resisted for the last eight overs to carry his bat for 71.

Victories by Grange and Heriot's allowed them to maintain their inexorable progress at the top of Conference A towards the First Division but RHSM's decision to switch their Conference B game from a waterlogged Corstorphine to Inverleith, backfired on them.

They bowled out their opponents for 78 on a newly-prepared wicket but then found themselves three runs short of the win they needed to bolster their hopes of reaching the First Division.

The only game to take place in Conference C saw Stirling County record their first win of the season at Arbroath. The home team reached 147 with Neil Burnett top scoring with 30 and Willie Morton taking 4-40. Morton also played his part in steering his team to that first win with 35.

Perthshire also kept their good run going, bowling Falkland out for 104 and collecting the runs with six wickets down.

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