Carlton Turn on Class vs Dons

Grange Loan was the venue for the CSL Premier match between league leaders Carlton and defending champions Aberdeenshire.

Captain Buchan maintained his remarkable record of winning the toss and chose to bowl.

Openers Watts and Gardiner started patiently and were made to work hard early on to survive, Tyler and Adrian both beating the bat and making good use of the movement in the wicket.

It wasn't until the introduction of spin into the attack however that the first wicket stand of 81 was broken by Cooray. Keeper Reid anticipating a reverse sweep and clinging on to a tough chance to dismiss Gardiner for 17.

Scotland Captain Mommsen was the next man out for 24, being found short of his ground by a swooping Tomlinson. A fantastic bowling spell from Venske just before drinks brought a slip chance when Mommsen had amassed only 11 so Shire were lucky not to be made to rue earlier missed chances.

Next man to go was Fraser Watts, but not before taking the score along with McCann to 188 for 3. Watts made a classy 103 before being run out by James Musgrave.

With McCann playing an array of expansive shots from one end, Dons bowlers Van Der Berg and Cooray did well to continue breaking partnerships at the other end with 3 wickets a-piece. Both bowlers created opportunities for hat-tricks. Cooray dismissing the dangerous Drummond (7) and capped Evans in successive deliveries lbw and caught well by a sulking Howard at point. Van Der Berg showing his aggression with two sharp deliveries getting rid of Boyd and overseas McCloy for zip.

Adrian Neill dismissed dangerman McCann for a swift 63 and also completed the run out of Gossain to complete a decent fightback from the visitors leaving a total of 264 to win.

In the reply, a mix up between pairing Venske & Martin saw the latter run out for 6 and leaving the score on just 10.

As the overseas pairing of McCloy and Freshwater found their rhythm and continued to be rather frugal in the runs column Venske (14) was dismissed by Freshwater trying to keep up with the rate.

James Musgrave, batting at 3 worked hard to stave off the home attack while the wickets of Cooray (2), Van Der Berg (12) and Tomlinson (0) fell around him.

Musgraves resistance ended on 22 when he was adjudged lbw to Gosain leaving the score on 71-6.

The disappointment was further heaped on Aberdeenshire as wickets continued to fall in the 70s, leaving the side 78-9 before Buchan showed his ability to graft out an innings along with Howard taking the score to 120. Buchan top scoring with an innings of 24 including his first maximum after dancing down the wicket with the footwork precision of a young Michael Flately.

Buchan was the last man to fall on 24 leaving Howard not out on 20, and the score on a gloomy 120.

Shire welcome RH Corstorphine to Mannofield on Saturday and will be looking for a vast improvement with both bat and ball.