SALTIRES' new overseas cricket hired hand, Cameron Borgas, was today tipped for success as he prepares to take a bow in front of home supporters in tomorrow's opening Friends Provident Trophy clash with Middlesex at Citylets Grange, Edinburgh.
After four road trips which have failed to produce a win, Saltires will be banking on home advantage to break their duck.
Andh South Australian Borgas will be a key ingredient, according to Brian Papworth, secretary of the Greenock club who primar
ily employ the newcomer.
"What attracted us to Cameron first of all is that he is a state player of proven run-making ability," said Papworth.
In fact, the 25-year-old has an average of 28.84 with South Australia for whom his top score is 149.
It augurs well that Greenock seem to have a shrewd eye for an overseas addition since 2008 hired hand Tim McIntosh returned to New Zealand over the winter and achieved Test status.
Whether Borgas can do something similar remains to be seen but his scores for Saltires in three innings so far must go down as acceptable.
He started with a knock of 59 against Warwickshire followed by 65 against Kent and, earlier this week, hit 23 against Somerset.
Ironically, visa issues meant that tomorrow's visitors Middlesex were the one opponent Borgas missed out on facing so far in 2009. That could mean an element of surprise, though, for the likes of rising Aussie star Phil Hughes and Eoin Morgan, from Ireland, even if the form book suggests the Scots will need every assistance.
In heading north, Middlesex will be buoyed by a day of record breaking as they overcame Kent by 80 runs with a fine all-round performance on an excellent batting surface at Canterbury on Monday to keep their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stage of the Friends Provident Trophy alive.
Posting 322-5 the Panthers recorded their highest 50-over total with Morgan and Nick Compton putting on 277 for the third wicket.
It was the highest partnership for any wicket in one-day cricket for Middlesex with Compton making his highest one-day score of 131 while Morgan's innings of 161 was only two runs short of the highest one-day score by a Middlesex batsman – Andrew Strauss' 163 at the Brit Oval last season.
