WILLIE Donald is one of those seemingly laid-back six-footers who

treat cricket as a walk on the mild side.

After 42 years on this planet, 57 Scottish caps, 12 years with

Aberdeenshire, some of them as skipper, and 11 more years down in

London, where he played with Middlesex league side Teddington, when he's

asked to do something different . . . ''no problem.''

Like coming out of self-imposed retirement from cricket after his

banking job resulted in a move from England to Edinburgh; like opening

the batting for West Lothian against Fifeshire at Boghall on Saturday,

after skipper Steve Crawley had pulled a hamstring.

Donald teamed up with the in-form Sanjay Patel to put together West

Lothian's highest opening stand of the season. They put on 116 before

Donald was adjudged to have been lbw to Fifeshire's Lindsay Ferguson for

56, which included seven 4s and a 6. The look on Donald's face as the

umpire's arm was raised said all that was needed about his thoughts.

However, with only 151 to chase, and Patel in superb form, it seemed a

formality, although Ferguson again -- he also spilled two

caught-and-bowled chances -- and then young Ross Mitchenson snapped up

three more wickets to have the home side slightly nervous on 126 for

four. But Alan Farquarson joined Patel to steady the ship, and the final

total of 154 for four was easily reached, with Patel unbeaten on 70,

which included nine 4s.

Donald said afterwards that West Lothian, despite being bottom of the

league after a bad start to the season, could still challenge for the

title.

''We're unbeaten in our last five games, and have won four of them. We

are a new side, and have taken some time to settle. But now the better

weather is bringing harder wickets, we are playing much better.''

The same cannot be said for Fifeshire. Internal dressing-room politics

certainly do not seem to be helping the side, who seemed decidedly

listless as they lost their first wicket at 20, and slumped to 117 for

eight before Richard McMullins and Paul Norman put together a 34

partnership until Norman went for 19.

McMullins was unbeaten on 15 as Fifeshire reached 151 -- and that

despite a superb 46 by Wayne Sullivan. When he was out at 105 for three,

the collapse really began.

Chief tormentors were Crawley, who took three for 48 before having to

limp off injured, and Gordon Hollins, with three for 33. David Orr

wrapped up the tail with figures of two overs, one maiden, two wickets

for one run.

The dressing-room problems led last week to the resignation as captain

of Wayne Sullivan. He said: ''I don't want to say too much about it.

Basically, the lads were not happy with me, I was not happy with them,

so it seemed the best thing was to step down. They were not happy with

the way I was captaining the team.''

Bowler Keith Graveling led the side at Boghall, but with vice-captain

Ewan Ogilvie due back from America, it is thought that he will be

invited to take over.

Fifeshire certainly missed his experience on Saturday, and the fact

that unusually, Graveling not only failed to take a wicket, but was out

for a duck, possibly could be put down to the added responsibility of

having to captain an unhappy side.

Aberdeenshire, meanwhile, brought back memories of better days when

they moved to the top of the Caley 80/- Scottish Counties League with a

thrilling three-wicket win over Forfarshire at Forthill.

The home side had made 221 for five, with John Phillips unbeaten on

52, and Scott Carnegie, Bruce Ferrier, and Mike Cousin all in the 30s.

Sanju Mudkavi took five for 55.

But, led by Mike Smith's 63, with Colin Smith, Neil McRae, and Andy

Bee all in the 30s, Aberdeenshire reached 222 for seven, despite Gordon

Walker taking six for 62.

Stirling County moved into second-top place with a stunning victory

against Ayrshire at Prestwick Oval. Willie Morton destroyed the Ayr

batting with figures of six for 31, leaving them down and out on 127.

Despite Javed Ashraf taking three for 29, Kyle Wealleans' unbeaten 60,

aided by 33 from Alan Sievewright, took Stirling home by seven wickets.

Previous leaders Strathmore were involved in a fairly high-scoring

draw against Perthshire at Lochside. Perth's batsmen were in stunning

form, led by Chris Galloway's unbeaten 93. Lal Rajput hit 50, and Graeme

Ferguson and Kash Kalil each scored 33.

The total of 220 for three looked ominous, but Strathie got close,

finishing on 215 for six, with top scores coming from Grant Lawrence 61,

Nigel Hazel 59, and Mark Kelaher 47, Rajput taking five for 65.

Alistair McEwan's 74 was more than half of Clackmannan's all-out total

of 128 against Arbroath County at Lochlands, with Neil Burnett and Zahld

each weighing in with four wickets. Arbroath cruised to 132 for four,

John Salmond unbeaten on 65.