Gary Heatly looks ahead to Saturday’s matches in the Eastern Premier Division…
Blair Carnegie has returned from a spell in Australia to play for his local club Arbroath once again this summer – and he feels “honoured” to have been asked to captain the team in the Eastern Premier Division this coming weekend.
The Lochlands men lost their first two league games against ion8 Forfarshire and Meigle, but bounced back to defeat Stoneywood Dyce last time out.
They will look to build on that solid performance away against winless Stewart’s Melville on Saturday – and with regular skipper Marc Petrie unavailable, Carnegie will lead the first XI at Inverleith.
“I am honoured to be asked to captain the team on Saturday,” Carnegie, who plays with brother Bryce at Arbroath with their other brother Harris playing at Gen!us Grange, said.
“The start to the season was a bit disappointing, but the heads did not go down and we showed last weekend more of what we are capable of.
“We know Stew Mel will be desperate to get their first league win of the season, so we will have to play well on Saturday and we are all focused on doing that in Marc’s absence.
“There are some great young players coming through at the club, Daniel Salmond has deserved his opportunity in the first XI and has taken it by opening the bowling while Lee Paterson is another who is on the cusp of first team cricket and it has been great to involve Megan McColl, the Scotland Women’s player, in some of our midweek T20 games.”
Carnegie is a Cricket Scotland Development Officer for the Central area and is really enjoying the role having come back to Scotland following a spell in Australia between 2018 and 2020 when he played cricket for the Wangaratta Magpies.
“I have really enjoyed engaging with clubs after a couple of years away from Scotland and the passion for cricket just now is great as we come out of the pandemic, the enthusiasm around all the places I am visiting has reignited my love of cricket again,” the 25-year-old explains.
“The role covers a big area, so I clock up the miles, but it is just great to see so many people involved in what is a sport for all.”
For Saturday’s match Stew Mel have Ben Wilkinson, Greg Bissett, Chris Bissett and Cammy Devine all returning to their XI.
Grange are top of the table and they welcome Stoneywood Dyce to Portgower Place.
Young duo Jamie Cairns and Tom Mackintosh come in for the Edinburgh outfit with Lennard Bester, Jan Stander, Ryan Williams and Shazhad Ahmad joining the Stoneywood Dyce side.
Mikey Grant and David Noble return to the RH Corstorphine team as they head across the capital to play Carlton.
With Gordon Lamb and Peter Drummond out, Neil Wimberley and Tom Duff come into the Meigle XI to host Watsonians at Victory Park.
The visitors have Greg Brown, Tom Pratt and Harry Shivmangal coming into their side. Brown scored 163 not out last weekend for the second XI in a record 320 run first wicket stand with Jake Amis (121 not out).
Blair Carnegie is pictured batting by David Potter
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