PRESTON Mommsen yesterday warmed up for his Scotland return in style to help Grange maintain their unbeaten Eastern Premier record with a crushing win over SMRH.
Mommsen, who has opted to come out of retirement to play in next week’s World Cricket League fixtures against Namibia, responded by scoring his second century of the campaign. The former national skipper’s superb 110 helped Grange post 267-4 from 44 overs at Inverleith in one of many rain-affected games around the country.
Grange, maintaining their policy to give youth its fling, fielded several youngsters but it was left to their experienced campaigners to carry them to a winning total. Mommsen led from the front as the league leaders recovered from the loss of two early wickets. He blunted the SMRH attack with a series of classy strokes to the boundary and had excellent support from fellow internationalists Dylan Budge and Neil McCallum who each notched half-centuries.
In reply, the Inverleith men collapsed to a dismal 32 all out as Andrew Brock claimed 5-12.
Grange continue to share top spot with Arbroath who dug deep to overcome bogey team Watsonians at Lochlands. The Angus side were last month knocked out of the Scottish Cup by yesterday’s opponents but they took revenge with a thrilling 10-run success.
Former Scotland U19 batsman Ross McLean made a composed 93 as the home team made 241.
Watsonians looked on course at 127-2 when rain forced the players from the field and on their return Arbroath’s bowlers and fielders kept their rivals in check.
Champions Carlton maintained their recovery with an emphatic derby win over Heriot’s at Grange Loan. They were given a solid start by the in-form Fraser Watts who added 57 to a series of sizeable scores but it was the late flurry from Ali Shah which seized the initiative. He raced to 83 from only 55 balls, hitting five boundaries and four maximums, as Carlton reached 231-6.
Heriot’s were up against it after Michael Herdman picked up two quick wickets and skipper Ali Evans removed former Scotland batsman Steve Knox. In the end the Goldenacre troops slumped to 115 all out.
Elsewhere, Forfarshire broke their duck with an 11-run win on DLS at Glenrothes.
Western Premier leaders Prestwick were knocked off their perch following a derby defeat to Ayr at the Henry Thow Oval.
Andi McElnea played a captain’s knock with 60 as the visitors were dismissed for 181.
It looked like being more than enough when Prestwick’s top order collapsed but a battling 66no from Mitchell Rao carried the home side to within 14 runs until the Scotland U19 player was left stranded.
Another tight derby saw Ferguslie edge out Kelburne by 12 runs at Whitehaugh, Gregor Preston-Jones’ 87 proving decisive for the Meikleriggs men.
Champions Clydesdale put recent reverses behind them with victory over Poloc in a 26-overs thrash at Titwood. No play was possible until 4.45 but Dale made up for lost time by racing to 187-7, the prolific Richie Berrington top-scoring with 45 while Mo Awais made 42.
The loss of Owais Shah in the second over set the tone for a run-chase which never got out of the blocks, the visitors falling 81 runs short.
Despite posting a formidable 250-8, Greenock’s two-game winning run came to an end as Dumfries produced an excellent run-chase to prevail by four wickets at Nunholm, Tom McBride top-scoring for the hosts with 89.
East Kilbride reduced Uddingston to 91-7 in the play that was possible at Torrance House but the match was abandoned.
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