In what has in recent years proved to be a tightly contested fixture Watsonians edged out Carlton in a low scoring thriller at Myreside.

 

Carlton made 159 thanks largely to 50 from Captain Stevie Gilmour and 33 from Scotland under 17s batsman Rajan Bhopal. The wickets were shared with Ross Paxton, Steve Paige and Craig Wright each picking up two scalps each.

 

The real excitement came in the home side’s chase however. Cruising at 76-2 all was looking well for the Myreside men but when James Easton was out for a well made 41 the momentum swung back towards Carlton.

 

First Stuart Chalmers was out to a brilliant catch by Preston Mommsen at slip off the bowling of Ross Lyons and then Craig Wright followed caught behind in dubious fashion to leave Watsonians 60 runs short with 5 wickets in hand. Euan Stubbs fought hard to compile a valuable 29 and together with Paxton the threat of the impressive Ross Lyons was negotiated.

 

Stubbs was the aggressor while Paxton’s obdurate defensive frustrated and gradually wore down the Carlton attack. Stubbs’ effort was cut short when he slashed at a wide delivery from Omar Ahmed and present Mommsen with another catch in the slips.

 

With less than 30 required and 10 overs to bat it was up to the tail to bat with Paxton, both Vijay Saisubramanian (playing his last game before becoming a married man) and Captain Paige perished and it was left to Paddy Sadler to help the ‘Sonians scramble across the line. Sadler who had only accumulated 9 runs with the bat in his fledgling season stuck to his task where others had faltered and in the 48th over with Paxton watching on on 19* from 62 balls, swept former RHC club mate Preston Mommsen to the boundary to seal the tightest of victories.

 

It was another important victory for the 1^st XI and keeps the pressure up on leaders Grange who powered to victory against Uddingston.

 

The 1s host West of Scotland at Myreside next weekend in their final home game of the season and will be looking to finish the season strongly.

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