There can be no better way to mark your competitive debut for a new club than scoring a century in a home win – and that is what South African Daniel Da Costa did for Carlton in the Eastern Premier League on Saturday.
Batting first at Grange Loan, recently promoted Meigle made 179 all out, Raju Gayashan top scoring for them with 48. Ally Evans and Rory Allardice led the way with three wickets apiece for the home side.
In reply, Carlton opener Finlay Thornton made 40 from 46 balls to set the tone, before Da Costa scored 100 not out off just 91 balls, assisted by skipper Arun Pillai with 23 not out as they got home with plenty of overs to spare and eight wickets in hand.
Elsewhere in the capital, the Watsonians-Forfarshire match was washed out while Gen!us Grange got the better of Stewart’s Melville at Portgower Place.
147 all out played 150-4, with highlights including 4-25 from Dylan Budge and 3-28 from fellow Scotland player Jack Jarvis for Grange.
There were wins on the road for reigning champions Heriot’s and RH Corstorphine at Stoneywood Dyce and Falkland respectively.
James Dickinson had a great competitive debut for Heriot’s with 62 and then three wickets while Aayush Dasmahpatra took four wickets for RH Corstorphine.
In the Western Premiership One, there was a tight, low scoring game at Hamilton Crescent as 117 all out played 120-7, but reigning champions M8 Driving Ferguslie got past West of Scotland.
Captain Haroon Tahir took 4-12 for Ferguslie with Shubhang Sharma top scoring with 25 for West.
Uzair Ahmad then scored a crucial 42 from 46 balls in the reply before 17 not out from David Stafford helped Ferguslie to a three wicket win.
SM Cricket Stirling County posted 167-5 from their 31 overs up first against Clydesdale, Amir Shahzad making 46. Zeeshan Shami then led the bowling unit with three wickets as Clydesdale were all out for 122.
Alan Davidson made 66 not out to help Your Move Dumfries chase down Greenock’s total of 192-7. Dumfries reached 196-6 to record a four wicket win, rendering meaningless the 64 made by Tom Polkinghorne opening the batting for Greenock.
There was a cracking match at New Cambusdoon between Ayr and Prestwick.
A 172 run partnership between Michael English (83) and Neil Flack (94) helped Ayr on the way to posting 239-5 batting first. Matthew van der Mescht took three wickets for the visitors.
In reply, 68 from Euan McBeth and 55 from Donovan du Randt gave Prestwick hope of chasing down their target, but in the end good bowling and fielding restricted them to 233 all out.
Scotland spinner Hamza Tahir led the way with 6-49 in a six run win for Ayr.
In the SPCU North East Championship, the Strathmore-Falkland 2 match fell foul of the weather, but four games were completed in week one.
Arbroath United showed they will be a force to be reckoned with this summer as they posted 328-7 from 45 overs at home to Freuchie.
Jack Plomer led the way with 80 and Bryce Carnegie made 77 while Ryan Plomer then took five wickets as the visitors were bowled out for 98.
At Doo’cot Park, Perth Doo’cot were also in the runs, Joel Rush hitting 129 off 117 balls as they made 270-5 up first versus Kinloch then bowled the visitors out for 138.
Huntly defeated Gordonians and Aberdeenshire saw off Forfarshire 2 in lower scoring games.
Jordan Squire took 3-19 as Huntly bowled out Gordonians for 120 and then Jay-Dee Oliver made 95 not out as the Castle Park side won by seven wickets.
Six Aberdeenshire bowlers chipped in with wickets at Forthilll to bundle hosts Forfarshire out for 76. Lewis Munro then made 46 not out as Aberdeenshire won by six wickets.
Carlton centurion Daniel Da Costa is pictured by Gavin Murray
