Cricket: Carlton walking on Ayr and off to a flyer in Premiership

CARLTON'S impressive batting line-up once again delivered as they defeated Ayr on Saturday to make it three wins from three in the SNCL Premiership.

Ayr won the toss and elected to bat on a belter of a pitch at Grange Loan, pro Michael Papps and Andi McElnea putting on 89-runs for the first wicket before Omar Ahmad had the latter caught by Cedric English for 33.

New Zealander Papps continued on his merry way though, coming together with young wicketkeeper Neil Smith. The latter made 43 before becoming a victim for Jason Trembath, while Papps went on to top score with 104.

In the end, Ayr made 251-6, Richard Metcalfe picking up two wickets for the hosts.

In reply, Carlton openers Fraser Watts and English put on 78 for the first wicket. English was bowled by Papps after making 33 and Watts was out 34-runs later just one short of a half century. Scotland man Preston Mommsen and Steve Gilmour then put on 124 for the third wicket and that partnership all but saw them home.

Mommsen top scored with 83, while Gilmour made 41 and it allowed Sean Olivier to hit the winning runs in the final over for a five-wicket win.

Meanwhile, Gregor Maiden hit a century in Fife as Grange also made it three wins from three against the Dunfermline Knights.

Grange travelled with an under strength team, the likes of Neil McCallum, Giles Holmes, Stuart Davidson and Andrew Brock all missing, but they still managed to post 273-6 batting first.

Maiden top scored with 104 with pro Warren McSkimming backing him up with 75. In the Knights reply the Grange attack battled hard to restrict the hosts to 267-8 in a nail biting finish.

Pro Adam Lockhart-Krause and teenager Peter Ross both scored 50s as Heriot's got their first win of the season at Clydesdale.

Australian Lockhart-Krause made 54 and Ross 52 as they posted 231-8 at Titwood. They then bowled the hosts out for 204 to win by 27-runs.

Jason Biddulph took four wickets as RH Corstorphine defeated Penicuik in the SNCL Championship, the hosts' 220-9 proving too much for the Midlothian men.

Edinburgh Accies bowled out SMRH for 105 to clock up their first win of the season. Pro David Rixon took four wickets and scored 62 not out for the men from Stockbridge.

West Lothian defeated Falkland by 94-runs.