Watsonians go on the Chalmers offensive in victory

Watsonians captain Ewan Chalmers was pleased with the way his side put in a dominant all-round performance against Glenrothes to bounce back to winning ways in the CSL Eastern Premiership on Saturday.
Ewan Chalmers produded a superb 132-run partnership with brother Andrew. Pic: Ian GeorgesonEwan Chalmers produded a superb 132-run partnership with brother Andrew. Pic: Ian Georgeson
Ewan Chalmers produded a superb 132-run partnership with brother Andrew. Pic: Ian Georgeson

The Myreside men won their first two matches in the league this summer against SMRH and Aberdeenshire, but had since lost to Heriot’s, Mazars Grange and Arbroath.

As a result they were keen for a positive outcome when Glenrothes visited the Capital – and they got just that.

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The groundstaff had done a great job to get the game starting on time at 1pm given the rain there had been in the previous few days and Watsonians were put in to bat.

They lost Andrew Learmonth early for seven, but fellow opener Brendan O’Connell hit 32 before he was out with the score on 58.

That meant brothers Ewan and Andrew Chalmers were together at the crease and they proceeded to put together a superb 132-run partnership.

By that stage Ewan was on 72 and Andrew was on 46 and they looked set to kick on and take their side up to a very big total.

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However, they fell in successive overs to Aamir Shahzad and Scott Lucas.

Aman Bailwal with 22, Andrew Fraser-Harris (17) and Dewald Nel (18) hit some vital late innings runs as the home side posted 257-6, helped by 42 extras from Glenrothes.

Early on in the Glenrothes reply Andy McKay and Dewald Nel never let the visiting batsmen settle and they were soon 22-3.

When Nel, who ended up with figures of 3-20, had Jamie Penman smartly caught by wicketkeeper Andy Hislop it was 29-4.

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The Fifers never recovered from that and were eventually all out for just 104.

Olly Brown and Tom Cullen weighed in with two wickets apiece while McKay, Bailwal and O’Connell were also in on the act as Sonians moved up to fourth.

After the 153-run victory, skipper Chalmers said: “We knew we had to get back to winning ways soon in the league and this was a good way to do it.

“It was good to bat with my younger brother for quite a long spell and he has been batting really well this season.

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“The guys at the end of our innings then helped take us up over 250 and we felt that we could defend the total.

“Dewald Nel bowled a very good spell and all of the bowlers and fielders backed him up to close out the game.”

There were defeats on the road for Carlton and SMRH in rain affected matches.

At Forthill, young Carlton seamer Cameron Shoebridge continued his good recent form with three wickets as Tayside Group Forfarshire posted 179-6 in 39 overs.

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In their reply, Arun Pillai hit 40 not out, but wickets kept falling at regular intervals as the Grange Loan men were all out for 126 to go down by 53 runs.

That leaves Carlton fifth while SMRH are ninth after they were edged out at Mannofield.

Hayden Mourits led the way with 3-27 as SMRH restricted Aberdeenshire to 149-9 from their 35 overs.

Shaylen Pillay battled hard for a superb 81 in reply, but he ran out of batting partners as SMRH fell 14 runs short in their run chase.

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Grange’s top-of-the-table clash with Arbroath was off as was Heriot’s match at Falkland.

In the Baillie Gifford ESCA Championship leaders RH Corstorphine were on top form to defeat fellow title chasers Mazars Grange II.

Calum Clarkson took four wickets at East Barnton Avenue as the visitors were 64 all out.

Ozzie Malik then hit 48 not out as RH Corstorphine won by eight wickets.

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