93 for 3

Steve Gilmour 44 no, Bryn Lockie 24 no

92 for 9

Cedric English 3 for  11, Steve Gilmour 2 for 9, Mo Afzal 2 for 13, Tom Clarke 2 for 18

On a cold, spring day with a chill wind blowing around Arthur’s Seat on its way from Russia, Carlton took to the field resplendent in bright yellow as Dunfermline decided to bat on winning the toss.

With Ced clean bowling skipper Rai in the first over, the visitors might have been beginning to regret their decision. And when he shattered the stumps twice more in his four over spell, following a couple of wickets for Mo, then things were looking bleak for Dunfermline at 24 for 5. However, Barnes and Yasir Arfat combined well and Carlton were relieved when Tom Clarke trapped Barnes lbw as he attempted a sweep. A couple of stumpings from skipper Jamie Kerr saw both Tom and Stevie end with two wickets apiece as the Dunfermline innings closed on 92 for 9.

The combination of the new white ball and early season conditions – allied to a fine spell from the Dunfermline opening bowlers - saw Ced, Fraser and Jamie quickly back in the pavilion. However, Carlton’s man for a crisis Bryn Lockie played an excellent anchor role, dispatching anything overpitched with immaculate timing. His partner for the fourth wicket was Stevie Gilmour and  Gilly looked to be in great touch following his winter skippering the University of New South Wales 2nd grade side. He peppered the boundary with a range of fine shots, the pick of which was a straight one-bounce four to tie the scores, before he hit the winning run to make Carlton Scotland’s 20:20 champions.

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219 for 5 (49 overs)

Peter Deakin 87 no, Ross Lyons 47 no, Bryn Lockie 30

198 for 8 (43 overs; target - 205)

Peter Deakin 4 for 44

Carlton are grateful for the generous support of our match sponsor: Alan Kemp

With the Grange Loan weather confounding the gloomy forecast, skipper Cedric English won the toss and elected to bat. With the ball darting around dramatically, batting wasn’t easy and opener Pete Swan was an early casualty. The experienced duo of Ced and Bryn Lockie steadied things for a time until left-armer Delmont had two successful lbw shouts in the one over ; the first one against the Carlton skipper and the second against Stevie Gilmour. Bryn, and then Jamie Kerr, battled hard in the most testing of conditions with a number of chances flashing by, and through, the Watsonian fielders.

When Bryn and Jamie departed, Carlton were in trouble at 90 for 5. However, Peter Deakin (left), who had worked hard to survive early on, was joined by fellow debutant Ross Lyons and the new boys put together a sparkling unbeaten partnership of 129 to take Carlton to a decent total.

Facing less bowler friendly conditions, Watsonians had every reason to be confident. However, a tight opening spell from Ced and Mo Afzal saw the home side off to a steady start with Mo picking up an early wicket that brought pro Andy Delmont to the wicket. From the start Delmont batted beautifully, but a good spell from first change seamer Nathan Pietsch, also on debut, kept the visitors behind the D/L par score. 

With the spinners on, the Watsonian batsmen attempted to up the run rate but the Carlton fielding was excellent with two superb catches from Stevie Gilmour the highlight. The final over saw man of the match Peter Deakin bowling with 15 needed to win. With three balls left Delmont was run out for a brilliant 102 and Peter picked up his fourth wicket off the penultimate ball to see Carlton home by 6 runs.

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Video clips:

Drive for two from Bryn

Peter: Clip off the legs for 4

50 on debut for Peter Deakin

Six for Ross

And six for Peter

Easton st Kerr b Deakin

Match programme insert

238 for 5

Cedric English 89, Jamie Kerr 54 no out

235 for 9

Ross Lyons 3 for 36, Tom Clarke 2 for 31

Carlton are grateful for the generous support of our match sponsor: Frank Millar

In their second home SNCL game in two days Carlton faced up to the talented Scotland Under 19 side.

After an early breakthrough, when skipper Ced English dismissed Grange youngster Oli Hairs, Matthew Parker and Ewan Chalmers put together a fine partnership of 84 before the breakthrough came from an unlikely source. Fraser Watts' off-spin trapped Parker in front, although the Arbroath youngster may have had reason to feel he was a little unlucky.

Thereafter, there was good tussle between bat and ball with keeper Petrie a little unlucky not to reach 50, falling to a caught and bowled to spinner Tom Clarke, who defied illness to claim two important wickets. As the tail enders hit out, fellow left armer Ross Lyons picked up two wickets in the last over, to finish with figures for 3 for 36.

Chasing a tough looking 236 to win, Carlton's reply started confidently with 17 year old Tom Barrett impressing on debut, hitting four boundaries in a 50 partnership with Fraser Watts. Barrett departed to a smart catch to Petrie, and Fraser and Steve Gilmour were out soon after, to leave Carlton in trouble on 72 for 3. Another steady innings from Bryn Lockie steadied the ship before he fell victim to a mix up with his skipper and was run out. At this point Carlton were on 132 for 4 and if the visitors had held on to one of the chances Jamie Kerr offered early on, the outcome may have been different. However, once the Carlton keeper got his eye in there was only going to be one winner, as he hit a sparkling 54 off just 48 balls, including two mighty sixes. Ced English, who played an invaluable anchor innings, was out just before the end for a superb 89.

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Match programme insert

209 all out

Gordon Drummond 3 for 43

209 for 8

Cedric English 66, Bryn Lockie 48

The hunt for the SNCL title began in earnest on Saturday, with the Arrows aiming to take down the Stags at Raeburn Place. Recent encounters between the two sides have produced some tight contests, and this game would prove to be no exception!

Carlton welcomed two debutants into the side, with Drummo making his long awaited debut and Welsh all rounder Jamie 'Gerald' Davies joining after moving to Edinburgh with the Fire Brigade

Cedric won the toss and elected to field in overcast conditions, Cede himself took the new ball with Mo Afzal and Grange got off to a steady start. However, as the Grange batsman began to try and up the scoring rate Mo 'Magic' struck twice to remove both openers. The home side continued to move the scoreboard along, but after two mini partnerships Drummo first trapped fellow Scotland international Neil McCallum LBW and then rattled Moffat's furniture to keep the game evenly poised. Cedric introduced Ross Lyons in to the attack and he accounted for two more home batsmen with some excellent bowling. When Simon Smith was run out after some miscommunication (followed by some impromptu demolition work on the Grange pavilion), the Arrows were in a strong position with 15 overs to go and the Stags seven wickets down. Only a careful eighth wicket partnership, followed by some late boundaries got Grange to what looked like a slightly below par 209 all out.

Legs took an excellent catch off the final delivery of the innings for the tenth wicket, and in the process saved two runs. How critical would that turn out to be later in the day?

The Carlton reply started uncertainly with Fraser falling early in the reply to a sharp catch off the bowling of the Grange pro, Wise. However, from that point the experienced partnership of Cedric and Bryn began to build a potential winning position for Carlton. The pair put on over 100 to put the Grange Loan men in sight of victory, and the Arrows were left needing little over five runs per over from the last 15-20 overs with plenty of wickets in hand.

Unfortunately both Ced and Bryn were dismissed in quick succession, and following a brief partnership with Drummo, Gilly was removed by a very sharp piece of glove work by Smith. When JK was run out in somewhat bizarre circumstances a mini collapse ensued and Carlton were left edging towards the total with wickets falling steadily. Drummo worked hard to put us in sight of a victory, and 20 runs were required from three overs with three wickets in hand. The game swung the Arrows way when Legs chinese cut for four, but some tight bowling, a slow pitch, and increasingly poor light made boundaries otherwise difficult to come by. When Charlie was caught on the boundary the game was very much in the balance, and nerves were being shredded both on and off the pitch. Mo joined Drummo and the two set about trying to reach the magical 210. With ten required from the final over a two and a wide brought the total in sight, and when two runs were required from the final ball with Drummo on strike anything was possible.

But the ball cannoned off Drummo's thigh pad for a comfortable single, but no chance of a two, and the game ended in a tie!

Clearly with overs and wickets to spare after Cedric and Bryn had got Carlton in sight, it was disappointing not to claim the victory. However, after wickets had fallen and the required rate increasing it took a great effort from Drummo and the late order to claim something from the game. Both sides played some excellent cricket at times, and the result sets up an intriguing return game at Grange Loan later in the season.

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98 all out (17.4 overs)

Steve Gilmour 42

A low, slow pitch made it difficult for Carlton, batting first, to judge what might be a good score. After the fall of early wickets from batsmen looking to up the run rate, it was left to Stevie Gilmour with a battling 42 to provide the bulk of the runs as Carlton's innings faltered badly towards the end, leaving 14 balls unused.

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122 all out

Jamie Davies 30 not out

Carlton are grateful for the generous support of our match sponsor: DR CC Smith

Carlton’s winning start to the season came to a stuttering halt at Grange Loan on Saturday when they were well beaten by a confident Aberdeenshire side.

The day started well when skipper Cedric English won the toss and, after sending the visitors in, clean bowled Coetzer with just 13 on the board. With Mo Afzal picking up two wickets in an impressive spell and Charles Legget bowling Reid, the home side were well placed at 49 for 4. However, skipper Matt Hays decided to take the game to the bowlers and chance his arm to hit an aggressive 41 before he fell to a fine piece of bowling from Ross Lyons, being well caught by Tom Clarke in the deep. Left-arm spin twins Lyons and Clarke turned in identical figures of 1 for 23 off their ten overs to wrest control back to Carlton.

Youngster Matthew Cross batted well in the latter part of the innings, being particularly severe on anything short, to hit a fine undefeated 41 and carry Aberdeenshire to a competitive 176 for 6 off their 50.

A good start was needed to the reply, but unfortunately young opener Tom Barrett was adjudged lbw to the first ball he received from the tall and awkward West. With both Steve Gilmour and Bryn Lockie falling to catches behind, Carlton’s hopes once again rested on skipper Cedric English and it was his dismissal that turned the game decisively in the Dons’ direction. Ced pulled a short ball from Richie Lamb, only to see it parried by Reid who then caught the ball on the way down.

Thereafter, a patient unbeaten 30 from Jamie Davies was the only highspot as Carlton slid to a disappointing 122 all out.

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Match programme insert

Ross Lyons 3 for 11

100 for 2 (17.5 overs)

Jamie Kerr 35 not out, Bryn Lockie 25 not out

The home side batted first on a dusty, spiteful pitch and found runs hard to come by as opening bowlers Ced and Mo started well. A few boundaries came from a couple of loose overs mid innings to boost the SMRH score, but spinners Ross and Clarkey picked up 5 quick wickets between them to restrict the final total to 99 for 8.

In reply, Ced and Stevie Gilmour started cautiously before the latter was caught at long on going for his first big shot. Ced was adjudged LBW shortly afterwards and at the half way mark Carlton needed in excess of 6 an over. However, Bryn and Jamie ignored the odd ball spitting off a good length to build a solid partnership, with Bryn playing the anchor role while Jamie began to go for his shots. A couple of productive overs from JK made all the difference and Carlton eventually won comfortably with a couple of overs to spare.

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271 for 5

Charles Legget 2 for 36

275 for 4

Cedric English 143 not out, Ross Lyons 80, Steve Gilmour 30

Carlton travelled west for this Premier League clash without the services of half a first team, with Watts, Drummond, Evans, Deakin and Kerr all unavailable.

Giving lie to the suspicions that a fast bowler turned groundsman would inevitably prepare a 'result' wicket, ex-Scotland star Paul Hoffman laid on what one Carlton batsmen described as "the best batting track I've ever seen in Scotland" for the clash at Bothwell.

Hoffman the batsman looked to take full advantage of his batting strip by opening the Uddingston innings and setting off like an express train, leading visiting skipper English to turn immediately to left-arm spinner Ross Lyons. To the relief of his team-mates, Lyons halted the onslaught by trapping Hoffy lbw. Thereafter, the Uddingston pro Plant anchored the innings, while a fine spell of bowling from late call-up Charles Legget delivered 2 for 36 off his ten overs and kept Carlton in the game. However, the hard-hitting Adrees was promoted and proceeded to smash a quick 50 to take Uddingston to a challenging 271 for 5 off their 50 overs. Even worse for Carlton was an injury to skipper English who had to leave the field with a badly dislocated pinky.

The youngsters in the Carlton dressing room were treated to an X-certificate show at the interval as Ced somehow managed to squeeze a batting glove over his damaged digit without screaming or passing out. Thereafter, English's team-mates were able to sit back and enjoy a masterclass of batting as Ced passed 5000 SNCL runs, while Stevie Gilmour looked in ominous form at the other end. Stevie, however, fell victim to an lbw decision and with Bryn Lockie falling soon after, the Carlton no 5 Ross Lyons took the opportunity to confirm that he is a genuine all-rounder by joining his skipper in a sensational 165 run partnership at better than run a ball to take the visitors in sight of victory.

In the end, Carlton won a memorable match with 10 balls to spare and Ced walked off unbeaten with 143 to his name after one of his finest ever innings.

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145 all out (23 overs: Target 148 in 23 overs)

Peter Deakin 44

175 for 5 (36 overs)

Carlton are grateful for the generous support of our match sponsor: Bill Borthwick

On an afternoon of constant showers, this premier league match started an hour late with the number of overs per side reduced from the outset. After the new ball duo of Gordon Drummond, who was making his home debut, and Mo Afzal had restricted the Clydesdale openers, it was skipper Ced English who made the first breakthrough inducing Zulfi Shahid to edge behind.

This brought Clydesdale pro Kamran Sajid to the wicket and he forged a threatening looking partnership with Harmanjit Singh before the latter fell to a sharp legside catch by young wicket keeper Fraser Boyd off the bowling of ex-Clydesdale left arm spinner Ross Lyons. When Charles Legget induced Sajid to hit one straight to Ced English in the next over Carlton were suddenly back in the match.

Ex-Scotland star Omer Hussain was joined by his skipper Kasim Farid and the talented pair found the boundary with regularity before the introduction of Jamie Davies brought instant results when a short ball took Hussain by surprise and he could only send a skier into the keeper’s gloves.

Another rain break led to an early tea and reduced the overs once again. On the resumption, Clydesdale had a four over thrash to set Carlton a challenging target.

Sadly  for the home side the game seemed all but over after a fiery opening burst from Kamran Sajid. First, he had a secondary appeal for a bat pad catch at gully upheld against the in-form Cedric English and then saw off Fraser Watts with another gully catch before finding the edge of Bryn Lockie’s bat to leave Carlton reeling at 11 for 3.

However, as the Carlton run rate was increased by further rain breaks and DL recalculations, Stevie Gilmour and then Pete Deakin hit out with an array of dazzling strokes to bring Carlton back into the game. However, once Deakin was well caught in the deep by young Scobie, the game began to slip away from the home side leaving 28 needed off the last two overs.

Ross Lyons, however, took a liking to the bowling of Kamran Sajid, smashing 6, 6, 4 in successive balls to leave just 8 needed off the last over. The thin line between winning and losing was illustrated by Charles Legget who smashed the ball back over the head of Majid Haq in the final over only to see Omer Hussain hang on to the catch only just inside the boundary. When Lyons was run out trying to get back on strike 5 runs were needed off just two balls. Mo Afzal scrambled a single leaving young Fraser on strike for the last ball with a four needed to win. Despite making good contact the youngster was unable to find the boundary and Clydesdale won a pulsating encounter by just three runs.

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Match programme insert

236 for 5

Ross Lyons 2 for 40

205 all out

Gordon Drummond 55 not out

We set off in an extremely positive vein with Fraser and Cedric scoring freely against Heriot’s opening attack. The first bowling changes proved to be decisive, however, as Van Neikerk removed Fraser for a rapid 29 and quickly followed with the dismissal of Cedric for 23 with the total on 60, while medium pacer Innes ran through the middle order. After these quick wickets it was always going to be an uphill struggle, although a blistering sixth wicket partnership of 54 between Drummo and Jamie K. brought us right back into the picture while simultaneously silencing one particularly vocal member of the fielding side. Unfortunately, Jamie was caught by Knox on 30 with the score on 149 and the chatter began once more. After that we never really looked like winning and, despite an excellent 55 not out from Drummo, we fell short by being all out for 205.

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234 for 7

Ali Evans 3 for 55

235 for 7

Gordon Drummond 75 not out, Jamie Kerr 46, Cedric English 44

After winning the toss and electing to bat, pinch-hitting opener James Easton got Watsonians off to a flier before Ali Evans, making his first Carlton appearance of the season since the Murgitroyd Twenty20 Final in April, made the vital breakthrough. Two more Evans wickets followed, including the prize scalp of the in-form Andy Delmont, to leave the home side in big trouble early on. However, a number of missed chances characterised a lacklustre middle part of the innings from Carlton as keeper Stubbs and Chalmers were allowed to build a big partnership. A good second spell from Gordon Drummond, playing against his ex-teammates, pegged things back at the death as Watsonians ended on 234 for 7.

As with the Watsonians innings, three Carlton wickets fell early, bringing Drummo in to join his skipper much earlier than either of them would have liked. At this stage the target looked a long way away and things looked even bleaker soon after when Cedric got a leading edge to give an easy catch just when he was looking to open out, having compiled a classy 44. Happily for Carlton Jamie Kerr came in at 6 in determined mood. The new partnership grafted hard for a number of overs in the face of some accurate Watsonians bowling before Jamie found his timing and began to pick out the boundaries. When the Carlton keeper was clean bowled in sight of his fifty, the Cup hopes rested squarely on the broad shoulders of Drummo (hitting out below), particularly when Ross Lyons departed shortly afterwards.

With Mo Afzal sent in next to take advantage of the final PowerPlay, the Carlton pair blended some innovative hitting with hard running to take Carlton in sight of victory. Although Mo perished, Drummo remained the coolest man at Myreside as he took Carlton to the brink before watching Jamie Davies hit the winning runs to seal a great victory and delight the Carlton travelling support.

Drummo finished on 75 not out to take his weekend tally to an unbeaten 130. Carlton will now play hosts to the talented youngsters of Arbroath United in the next round.

Scorecard

178 for 5 (29.2 overs)

Fraser Watts 71, Cedric English 59

Ross Lyons 2 for 23

169 for 3 (20 overs)

Gordon Drummond 78 not out, Peter Deakin 48 not out

217 for 7 (50 overs)

Bryn Lockie 57, Steve Gilmour 57, Rob Thornton 38

257 for 6

Steven Gilmour 82, Jamie Kerr 77 not out, Gordon Drummond 30

Ayr got off to a flier as the Carlton seamers found it hard going on a fine batting wicket, before left arm spinner Ross Lyons made a vital double breakthrough dismissing Ayr pro Papps and veteran Patterson to reduce the home side to 86 for 2. However, Johnstone joined Andi McIlnea to make the visitors toil in the sunshine and the pair took the score beyond the 200 mark although there was a feeling in the Carlton ranks that the two batsmen failed to push on as quickly as they might have done. McIlnea was eventually bowled by Gordon Drummond on 113, but  Johnstone went on to make an unbeaten 61 and took the Ayr score to 256 at the end of 50 overs.

Fraser and Bryn opened but both fell in quick succession before 50 was on the board and Carlton were indebted to a sound partnership between Gordon Drummond and Stevie Gilmour, which kept the visitors up with the required run rate before Drummo was dismissed by the wily Patterson. Jamie Kerr, who is having an excellent season with the bat, then joined Stevie and the pair put together a match winning partnership. Although Stevie’s stumping for a brilliant 82 sparked a late mini collapse, the game was won by then and Jamie saw the side home with an unbeaten 77.

Scorecard

323 for 7

Gordon Drummond 71, Bryn Lockie 65, Ross Lyons 53 not out, Steve Gilmour 50, Fraser Watts 43

72 all out

Ross Lyons 3 for 8

219 for 8

Ben Duerden 59, Fraser Watts 42

Fraser Watts 57, Cedric English 46

Scorecard

Gordon Drummond 48

253 all out

Fraser Watts 116, Jamie Kerr 41, Cedric English 35

90 all out

Ali Evans 5 for 41, Charles Legget 3 for 25

258 for 3

Cedric English 135 not out, Stevie Gilmour 43

246 all out

Omar Ahmad 7 for 30

After weeks of rain in the West and heavy overnight showers it was a surprise to see this match start on time at noon. If ever there was a day to win the toss this was it . Cedric duly lost it

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