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CSL Eastern Premiership 2017 week 12 preview

This article appeared in the Scotsman on Saturday, July 15 2017

CSL Eastern Premiership leaders Arbroath have their leading wicket taker Calvin Burnett back today as they look to stay out on top.

Burnett has taken 15 wickets in the league so far this summer, but missed last weekend’s victory at SMRH.

However, the seam bowler returns for the home match with Aberdeenshire along with skipper Marc Petrie and Craig Ramsay.

Ryan Cameron, Bryce Carnegie and Jack Waller drop out with Greig Peal facing a late fitness test on a back injury.

For the visitors, skipper Chris Venske has passed the 500 runs mark and will be key if they are to cause an upset.

Second placed Mazars Grange have not had a good run of late,  losing to Carlton in the league last time out and being knocked out of two cup events.

However, they are still in a good place according to  Nick Farrar, the 22-year-old all-rounder who has returned to the team in recent weeks having finished studying at Loughborough University.

Farrar, who was Grange’s top runs scorer in 2016, said ahead of the trip to Tayside Group Forfarshire:  “We were all frustrated by the loss to Carlton.

“You can’t get down after a loss in this league because there are a lot of good teams in this division and there is still a lot of cricket to be played.”

Forfarshire will be captained by Scott Cameron fresh from a Scotland A outing in Ireland.

Regular skipper Umair Mohammed and Matthew Parker are out with Jack Hogarth and Will Hardie replacing them.

Third placed Heriot’s make the trip across Edinburgh to take on Watsonians.

The clash will be the third meeting in six days, Watsonians coming out on top in last Sunday’s Citylets Scottish Cup semi-final before they played in last night’s Murgitroyd Masterton Trophy final.

Fifth placed Glenrothes are on the road to second bottom side SMRH.

The home side have Adam McHoul and Ralph Giraudeaux returning to the team in place of Kyle McCallum and Adil Farooq.

Fresh from reaching the Citylets Scottish Cup final, Carlton head to Falkland on league duties.

Returning to the league XI are Fraser Watts, Omar Ahmad, Rory McCann and Fraser Boyd with the latter keeping wicket.

Youngsters Angus Beattie and Tom Simpson keep their slots after performing well last weekend.

Falkland will still be led by Harsha Cooray in the absence of Stuart Campbell.

The Fifers then travel to Sessay down south on Sunday in the Village Cup.

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