George Munsey re-wrote the record books yesterday as Watsonians rattled-up the runs in a one-side Eastern Premier clash at Falkland.
Scotland star Munsey, who earlier in the month notched a maiden first-class century in the Intercontinental Cup fixture with Namibia, continued his rich vein of form to score an astonishing double century.
His boundary-laden 220 from only 120 balls is the highest individual score in top flight domestic cricket in the modern era while Watsonians’ total of 440-3 is also a new team high.
Munsey smashed the Falkland bowling to all corners of Scroggie Park as the runs kept flowing and he had superb support from Mike Carson whose 167 would have been the highest individual tally of the season but for Munsey’s heroics.
As it was, the 378-run partnership for the third wicket between the pair is also a new league record.
The home bowling figures made sorry reading and their batsmen fared only a little better, dismissed for just 124 as Carson completed a memorable all-round display with 4-39.
Munsey’s history-making efforts over-shadowed events elsewhere – a shame for Glenrothes who recorded a famous win over previously unbeaten Grange at Portgower Place.
Safyaan Sharif top-scored with 95 as the Fifers posted an imposing 290 before Grange never threatened the target, losing wickets at regular intervals.
Grange’s defeat means there are new leaders after Arbroath won a low-scoring affair against Carlton at Lochlands.
Chasing a modest 144, the home side needed a steady 39 from skipper Marc Petrie before edging home with just two wickets to spare.
Chris Greaves hit 52no and Craig Wallace 49 as Forfarshire continued their ascent of the table with an easy eight-wicket win over SMRH at Inverleith.
Hayes van der Berg returned to Mannofield to haunt his old Aberdeenshire mates, the South African scoring 46 and claiming 3-15 as Heriot’s won by 35 runs.
THE top match in the Western Premier was briefly held up when a sightscreen was blown over at blustery Bothwell Castle Policies.
Ground staff took several minutes to secure the structure before Uddingston’s Ross Lyons blew up a storm of his own with a brilliant unbeaten century against Ferguslie.
Walking to the middle with his team wobbling on 77-3, the former Scotland spinner proceeded to demonstrate his growing prowess as a batsman in a wonderfully controlled innings which propelled his team to 242-7.
Having made his intentions clear by smiting a straight six off Greg Cameron, Lyons continued to despatch any bad deliveries and fittingly reached three figures with another maximum from the final ball of Uddingston’s innings to finish 102no.
In reply Ferguslie made a steady start, putting on 46 for the first wicket, before Gregor Preston-Jones departed for 25.
It sparked the beginning of the end for the Paisley side who capitulated to 132 all out, in the process losing top spot to their hosts for whom Lyons completed a personal day to remember with 5-17.
Ayr remain firmly in title contention after a Michael Papps century helped them post 304-6 against Kelburne at Cambusdoon.
Papps made 117 before the visitors failed in their bid for a first win of the season, falling 77 runs short.
Similarly, Prestwick produced a solid batting display to reach 300-8 and set up a 133-run win over East Kilbride at the Henry Thow Oval.
Owais Shah was another of the day’s centurions, the Poloc man hitting a classy 136no from 126 balls in a six-wicket win over Dumfries at Shawholm.
And Mo Awais was also in the runs, the Clydesdale opener hitting a fine 110 and Richie Berrington 58 as the champions posted 236 en route to a 109-run win over Greenock at Titwood.
