Carlton ace Olivier aiming for more wickets against Fifers

Mario Olivier is enjoying life in the Capital. Pic: John Boyd

Tomorrow the Grange Loan men, who have won their first two league matches as well as progressing in the Murgitroyd Masterton Trophy, host Glenrothes in the CSL Eastern Premiership.

And then on Sunday they travel to Prestwick in round one of the Citylets Scottish Cup.

Thirty-three-year-old South African fast bowler Olivier arrived in Edinburgh in mid-April and has made quite an impression to date.

On his league debut the experienced campaigner took 2-39 – including five maidens – against Heriot’s, and last weekend he did even better.

Against Mazars Grange he ended up with 5-21 as the home side were skittled out for just 74.

It means that Carlton are top of the fledgling top-flight table, but Olivier is not getting carried away.

“I have really enjoyed my cricket with Carlton so far. The whole club have been very welcoming and it has been easy for me to hit the ground running,” Olivier said.

“What I have found here is a group of really hard working players while, through working with the club’s under-15 side, I can see that there is a lot of talented youngsters coming through for the years to come.

“I have been pleased to take a number of wickets in my two matches so far, but it is really a team effort. I have enjoyed opening the bowling with Ali Evans and we have managed to create a bit of pressure and cause problems between us for batsmen so that has been nice.

“I believe we have a strong squad, but we will not get carried away because we are only two weeks into a long season. I have heard that all the teams in the Premiership can beat the others on their day and we have to be prepared every week.”

When he was younger Olivier, originally from Pretoria, played alongside the likes of current South African internationalists JP Duminy and Faf du Plessis and he is hoping the experience he has gained in his homeland can help Carlton push for silverware come August and September.

For tomorrow’s league match against Glenrothes, who have lost two from two since promotion, Fraser Watts and Rory McCann are missing with Omar Ahmad and Kyle Macpherson coming in.

Watsonians are in third place and they are on the road to Stoneywood-Dyce.

For them Andrew Chalmers has completed rugby commitments and replaces Kenny Rae in the side.

In the Scottish Cup on Sunday they are at Grange and tomorrow the latter team are at Arbroath on league duty.

It should be an interesting encounter at Lochlands given that Grange pipped Arbroath to the title last year while they also met in the Scottish Cup final.

For Grange, Tom Foulds is missing due to work commitments so former Falkland player Avinash Yadav Umesh is set to make a top-team debut.

Heriot’s got their first win of the summer last weekend and tomorrow they are travelling to Aberdeenshire. Sean Weeraratna and Steve Knox are out for Heriot’s, Michael Kelly and Scott Robertson coming in.

On Sunday they are at Poloc in the Scottish Cup.

Meanwhile, in the Baillie Gifford ESCA Championship unbeaten clubs RH Corstorphine and Carlton II meet in the big match at Barnton.

SMRH have also won two from two and they host near neighbours Holy Cross at Inverleith.

Marchmont are bottom of the table and will be keen to get off the mark at home to Dunnikier while Mazars Grange II host Stuart&Stuart Penicuik in Stockbridge.

Lastly, Edinburgh welcome Kelso to Campbell Park.