This article appeared in the Scotsman on Saturday, June 10 2017:
Unbeaten sides Arbroath and Mazars Grange are getting ready to meet in the CSL Eastern Premiership this afternoon.
Leaders Grange will travel to Lochlands with both sides having won their five completed league matches to date in 2017.
The home side are given a boost by the news that skipper Marc Petrie is set to play his first match of the summer having recovered from injury.
The wicketkeeper takes over leadership from Ross McLean who said: “It is good to have Marc back and I have enjoyed captaining the team in the first few weeks of the season.
“We are a close knit bunch of guys and everyone has reacted well to me and the way we managed to close out last week’s win against Watsonians shows the team spirit we have.
“You always want to test yourselves against the best and Grange have been playing some great stuff so far so it should be an exciting game.”
Neil McCallum captains Grange with Preston Mommsen unavailable ahead of the Scotland match with Namibia on Sunday while Tom Foulds comes into the team.
Last week’s five wicket hero Andrew Brock is unavailable, but Gordon Goudie returns.
Kiwi bowler James Tapper will be key and he said: “I have heard from the guys that Arbroath are a competitive team who pride themselves on a strong home record and I am expecting a tough match, but we are playing some good cricket.
Third placed Heriot’s head to Falkland.
Scotland man Mark Watt is unavailable with him, Steve Knox and James Hearn being replaced by Michael Shean, Scott Robertson and Bilal Ashraf.
Falkland are still winless, but put in a good showing at Aberdeenshire last week and are not downhearted.
Fourth Carlton are in a run of great form as they head to Tayside Group Forfarshire.
However, they are without skipper Ali Evans, top runs scorer Fraser Watts and Rory McCann for the trip north.
Chayank Gosain takes over the duties as skipper while young duo Angus Beattie and Tom Simpson come into the XI alongside Guy Hudson.
Forfarshire have Graeme Black and Kye Leggett coming into the side for Craig Wallace and Scott Cameron.
Sixth placed Watsonians bring in Andrew Learmonth and Aman Bailwal to play Glenrothes.
Vasu Reddy skippers the Fifers at Myreside with Safyaan Sharif on Scotland duty.
Fresh from a win over Falkland, Aberdeenshire host SMRH.
Steven Parker again captains the visitors with Greg Ruthven unavailable.
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