‘Sonians Fightback to Secure Grange Loan Victory
After a week of mixed weather, Watsonians made the short trip across South Edinburgh to play Carlton in a top of the table clash.
Winning the toss, Steve Paige elected to bat on what looked to be a typically good Carlton track. Carlton were without internationals Grodon Drummond, Ross Lyons and Preston Mommsen and were also missing the batting and keeping talents of veteran Jamie Kerr. Watsonians fielded an unchanged side from the one that defeated Aberdeenshire.
Despite the attractive look of the pitch, it proved difficult to score on, James Easton falling early, caught at mid-on off the bowling of former Watsonian Charles Legget. Tim Weston was then caught and bowled, again by Legget, bringing Ewan Chalmers to the crease to help Ryan Flannigan in the rebuilding process. The pair appeared to have the situation in hand before Flannigan was caught at cover for 29 looking to launch a boundary through the leg side. Stuart Chalmers fell for a duck, LBW to Tom Clarke bringing coach Craig Wright together with his pupil. The pair batted sensibly trying to turn the the momentum back in Sonian’s favour. All was looking good until Chalmers was run out for 45 in a mix up with Wright having batted superbly. Stubbs was next to go, Watsonians continuing to lose wickets in pairs, but Wright stood firm. He was ably supported by Ross Paxton who made 29 from 30 balls using his full array of unorthodox strokes before dragging on a wide delivery from Legget to give him his fourth wicket. Upon Paxton’s departure Wright upped the ante and with the help of some unselfish batting from the tail he finished 61 not out and shepherded Watsonians to a slightly below par total of 198-9.
Watsonians started well with Paddy Sadler removing Ani Mujumdar with the score on 3. Veterans Watts and English put on 43 for the second wicket before the later was LBW to Stuart Chalmers. When Fraser Watts also perished, caught by Flannigan atop the hill from a rare poor Steve Paige delivery it seemed the momentum had swung back towards the Myreside men. Paige and Paxton were able to keep a handle on the Carlton run rate but Stevie Gilmour and Oli Tame stood firm. However, the return of Stuart Chalmers heralded another twist in the game as he removed Tame with an expertly delivered yorker. Enter Wright. Replacing Paxton from the Pavilion end, Wright’s off spin caused mayhem in the Carlton ranks. Carlton’s young lower order was left horribly exposed and the tight bowling and fielding of the Watsonian XI saw the home side lose their last 6 wickets for 43 runs to finish 196 a/o from 49.2 overs, Wright taking 5-14 from 5.2 overs.
It seems Watsonians are developing a knack of winning tight games, a trait that can only be good for the coming weeks. This weekend’s victory takes it to four in arrow and sets up the side perfectly for Sunday’s away trip to West of Scotland.
