CSL Eastern Premiership 2017 week 10 preview

This article appeared in the Scotsman on Saturday, July 1 2017

Aamir Shahzad is loving life at in-form Glenrothes and this afternoon the Fifers head to Carlton in the CSL Eastern Premiership looking to complete the double over the Edinburgh side.

Seven days ago 30-year-old Shahzad, who moved to the club from Stenhousemuir over the winter, took three wickets as Glenrothes defeated Mazars Grange.

The week before they had also beaten Arbroath and now sit fourth in the table with four wins as the competition enters the second half of the campaign.

Shahzad sits second in the top flight wicket taking table with 16 and he said:  “I have really enjoyed my time at Glenrothes so far and the guys have all made me feel welcome.

“We have some very good players here and although we have had a couple of frustrating results we have shown by defeating title chasers Arbroath and Grange in  the last two weeks that we can compete with anyone on our day.

“I thought we played very well at Grange last week, the batsmen in the top order all got runs and the bowlers stuck to the task and it was good to see Chris Mohale take five wickets.”

On the opening day back in April Glenrothes defeated reigning champions Carlton.

And now Carlton are seventh after last week’s loss to Arbroath, former Irish international Rory McCann returns for the Grange Loan men in this one.

Top of the table Arbroath are at bottom club Falkland.

Ross McLean captains the visitors with Marc Petrie unavailable while Calvin Burnett is back.

Harsha Cooray captains Falkland with Stuart Campbell unavailable.

Second placed Grange are at Heriot’s.

Heriot’s are in good form and Richard Cummine comes into the side for Michael Shean while the Grange XI is still to be confirmed,  but they will be hopeful that skipper Preston Mommsen can return from injury.

After last weekend’s record breaking victory at Falkland, Watsonians are back on home turf against SMRH.

George Munsey, who scored 220 seven days ago, is unavailable and he and Olly Brown are replaced by Brendan O’Connell and Dewald Nel.

Ninth placed SMRH have Steven Parker and Tom Hilton coming into their side.

At Mannofield Aberdeenshire host Tayside Group Forfarshire.

After a frustrating loss to Heriot’s last time out the home side have Craig Knight coming into the XI while Forfarshire will want to build on what was a very positive June with four league wins from four outings.

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