Cricket: Watsonians are made of Wright stuff, warns Craig

At Myreside, County batted first and were under pressure from the off against a Watsonians attack that bowled well in patches.

They managed to make 166-9, but it was never likely to be enough on a good wicket and despite losing two early wickets, half-centuries from pro Tim Weston and the in-form Stuart Chalmers saw the hosts home.

Wright said: "Coming off a loss the previous week against Grange it was key that we got back to winning ways quickly and overall I was pretty pleased with the team performance.

"We have games coming thick and fast now and it is good to see players putting their hands up for selection.

"The bowlers all did well in spells and it was pleasing to see young Alec Sim taking some wickets. He is a good prospect and someone that we hope to develop, and having players like him available shows that our strength in depth is growing all the time."

Duns-raised teenager Sim joined 'Sonians over the winter from Manderson after impressing for the Eastern Academy and Scotland under-17s.

On his debut just over a fortnight ago the tall seamer did not manage to take a wicket against Ayr, but was on good form last weekend for the second XI to earn a recall to the top team.

And he repaid Wright's faith with 3-29 after coming on as first change bowler, his first scalp that of County opener James Miller for 17, which left the visitors 46-3.

That had come 20 runs after left-armer Mike Legget had picked up the key wicket of County pro Kreeson Naicker for eight, trapping him lbw.

And the County innings never seemed to gain any momentum after those early losses, all 'Sonians bowlers chipping in. Tony McKenna, who has settled in well after his move from West Lothian, took 1-27, Chalmers took 2-20 and Wright and Raj Routray both took one wicket apiece.

The make-up of the bowling attack has a nice balance to it with the five seamers - McKenna, Legget, Sim, Chalmers and Routray - complemented by the spin of Wright. And it is an attack that will only get stronger when Cambridge University student Paddy Sadler is available later in the summer.

Captain Ian McGhee, standing in for the injured Phil Rees, top scored with 33 for the visitors as they crept up over 150 and although 166-9 was not an imposing total, Wright will have been disappointed to see his team give away 24 extras.

Watsonians' reply did not get off to the best of starts. Firstly Euan Stubbs was bowled by Naicker for a duck, while Scotland man Ryan Flannigan followed soon after for four to Jonathan Bowes.

With the scoreboard on 12-2, Kiwi Weston and former Penicuik skipper Chalmers came together and put on 89 for the third wicket.

Weston made 54, his first half-century of the 2011 season, and Chalmers 52 not out to follow up on the 71 not out that he scored on the opening day against Ayr.

All-rounder Chalmers has had a great start to the season and is clearly benefiting from the hard work he put in over the winter. His aim in the coming weeks will be to push himself back into Pete Steindl's thoughts for the national team and if he keeps performing with bat and ball then he cannot be far away.

James Easton and Wright scored 16 and 17 respectively to get 'Sonians close to victory and at the end Chalmers was at the wicket with teenage wicketkeeper Fraser Boyd (eight not out) as they completed the win and turned their thoughts to tomorrow night's contest and the visit of the Knights at the weekend.