Carlton win Scottish Cup for first time

Carlton's bowlers put in a superb performance to help them lift the Citylets Scottish Cup for the first time ever at Forthill today when they defeated Watsonians in the final.

Carlton skipper Ali Evans hit three sixes on his way to a vital 61. Picture: Donald MacLeod - www.donald-macleod.com

With Watsonians chasing a target 233 they were 167/3 before their innings unravelled.

Batting first Carlton fell to 30-3 early on, Andy McKay and Dewald Nel doing the damage.

The score progressed to 61 before Arun Pillai was out and Fraser Watts and Ali Shah then put together a 56-run partnership to take them up to 107.

Watts fell at that point for 42 and when Fraser Boyd and Angus Beattie were out cheaply it was 121-7.

In the 40th over left-hander Shah was stumped for 41 and it was 154-8 when skipper Ali Evans and vice-captain Chayank Gosain came together.

They put together a great partnership and in the 49th over Evans hit consecutive sixes off McKay to bring up his 50. He then hit another maximum but in the final over Gosain was run out for 30 and Evans was bowled out for 61 with the final ball for 232 all out. Spinner Tom Cullen was the pick of the Watsonians bowlers with 3-40.

In reply Watsonians got off to a good start, Mike Carson and Brendan O’Connell putting on 80 together until the latter was caught out in the deep by Beattie off Evans’ bowling.

Carson reached his century in the 38th over as Sonians looked to be striding to the target on 167/3 but then they lost seven wickets for 29 runs, including that of the centurion for 109, which changed the complexion of things totally.

In the end Watsonians were 196 all out as Carlton won by 36 runs.