Gary Heatly looks ahead to Saturday’s matches in the Eastern Premier Division…
Second placed Carlton and third placed ion8 Forfarshire will go into Saturday’s Eastern Premier Division action in fine fettle after they both won T20 silverware on Thursday evening.
Carlton lifted the Masterton Trophy after defeating Gen!us Grange by 25-runs in the final at Grange Loan while Forfarshire were defeating Arbroath by 64-runs at Lochlands to come out on top in the Caledonian T20 competition.
Those triumphs, led by 70 not out from Tom Simpson and 95 not out from Aman Bailwal respectively, mean that the two clubs will go forward to National T20 Finals Day at Lochlands on August 8 alongside M8 Driving Ferguslie and the Borders regional winner, the latter yet to be decided.
However, for now the sole focus for the two clubs is keeping up their league title bids as the Eastern Premier Division really hots up with eight rounds of action to go in 2021.
On Saturday, Carlton will be looking to make it eight league wins on the bounce when they take on fifth placed Watsonians at Grange Loan.
When the sides met earlier in the season, Carlton eased home by seven wickets at Myreside, but expect this to be a tighter affair.
Forfs are also at home, taking on eighth placed Stoneywood Dyce at Forthill. The last time they met, Scott Cameron’s men from Broughty Ferry came out on top by four wickets.
Meanwhile, leaders Heriot’s will be looking to build on their two wins last weekend when they make the short trip to Inverleith to play Edinburgh rivals Stewart’s Melville.
Heriot’s saw off RH Corstorphine in their last outing last Sunday while Stew Mel were returning to the bottom of the table at the same time following an agonising one wicket loss to Watsonians.
Despite being 10th, Stew Mel will have taken heart from their performance at Myreside while they showed what they are capable of 24-hours earlier by beating fellow strugglers Meigle.
As a result, there is no chance that Mark Watt’s men will be taking this capital derby ‘away day’ lightly.
Grange are now fourth after suffering two defeats last weekend, but they are still in the title race for sure and will be looking to get back on track against sixth placed RHC.
RHC dug in to beat Arbroath last Saturday and will need more of those battling qualities if they are to win at Portgower Place.
Seventh placed Arbroath host ninth placed Meigle at Lochlands.
Meigle won the match between the two sides by 61-runs earlier in the campaign at Victory Park and will be looking for more of the same, but know they will face a stern test.
The Carlton team are pictured after winning the Masterton Trophy on Thursday by Graham Gaw
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