Weekend preview – 26th/27th April

After a 238 day wait, competitive cricket is back at Grange Loan as the league season get underway for the 2s, 3s, 4s and 5s.

On Saturday Charles Stronach’s 2nd XI will mark their return to the ESCA Championship with a home fixture against Heriot’s 2s, starting at 1pm.  Both Dougie Firth and Pavan Yaradi are set to make their 2nd team debuts.  Whilst both games against the Nails in 2023 were washed out, the Arrows won each meeting between the sides by less than 15 runs in 2022, so we can expect a tight affair at Grange Loan to kickstart the season.

Brad McKay’s 3rd XI get underway against Edinburgh University Staff at Peffermill, starting at 12pm.  The home side enter into Division 2 off the back of 2 promotions in the last 3 seasons.  Maisie Maceira will make her first appearance in ESCA league cricket for Carlton.

Al Murray’s 4th XI get their ESCA Division 5 campaign underway at Roseburn Park against MDAFS 3s with the first ball being bowled at 1pm.  The home side completed the double over the 4s last season, so the Arrows will be looking to end that streak.  Jake Heller will make his 4th team debut.

On Sunday the Women’s 1st XI host Stewart’s Melville for a morning T20 starting at 9:30am at Grange Loan.  The two sides will meet later in the year in both the WPL and the first round of the Beyond Boundaries Women’s T20 Scottish Cup.

Keith Murray’s 5th XI will follow on at Grange Loan as they welcome newly promoted Edinburgh CC 3s for a 1pm start.  Martin Robertson and Bob Irvine, who are selected for the 5s on Sunday, played in the last meeting between the two sides back in 2016.  Robertson was the only man on that day to make it into double figures with his 26.

Both league games at Grange Loan will be livestreamed on the Carlton CC YouTube Channel.