HAVING just scaled the dizzy heights of 5000 runs in Scottish League cricket, Carlton all-rounder Cedric English will tomorrow, against Greaves Clydesdale at Grange Loan, set out in search of the 32 more required to become the second-highest scorer in competition history.
By posting his second century of the current campaign – 110 – against Ayr last week, ex-Scotland cap English took his aggregate to 5022.
Only Scotland skipper Ryan Watson (5650) and former Stirling County pro, Sajid Ali (5053), have scored more,
although unlike that duo, English's achievements have been solely in Division One of the Lloyd's TSB Premiership.
According to Carlton wicketkeeper Jamie Kerr, his colleague hit the ground running on arriving from South Africa a decade ago and has never looked back.
"Cedric's first taste of Carlton action came on a cold, early May day on a pudding of a wicket against Perthshire on their North Inch pitch," said Kerr.
"Compared to what he was used to, Cedric must have experienced a shock to the system.
"However, that didn't prevent him from hitting an unbeaten 53 after taking 4-30 off 16 overs.
"Since then, Cedric has led by example and his dedication is such that when he missed a match this season with a hamstring strain, it was the first time he had called off injured in ten years, the only other absences being due to Scotland calls.
"Add in his bowling successes and the true extent of the service Cedric has given to Carlton becomes even clearer."
English's qualification for Scotland came on residential grounds, and Kerr cites rivalry with a fellow Carlton internationalist, Bryn Lockie (currently 3935 league runs) as a key factor in the run-fest.
Kerr adds: "Down the years Cedric and Bryn have good-naturedly been trying to keep up with each other's cricketing exploits.
"They have probably spurred each other on through this rivalry and the good news for Carlton is that there appears to be plenty of runs in each of them still."
This is borne out by a third-wicket partnership of 170 between the pair when Carlton saw off Ayr last weekend to revive title hopes, Lockie making 50.
That meant a league double for the season over Ayr, and Kerr notes that the stakes will be even higher this weekend.
"We won at Clydesdale early in the season, but since then they have been back at Grange Loan and eliminated us from the Scottish Cup.
"So this is a rubber match with an extra edge because it is important we keep on winning.
"Against Ayr we were reasonably sure Matt Horne would have to hit a big score and the more overs that passed without him getting boundaries, the more confident we became, eventually winning by 96 runs.
"Against Clydesdale, the dangermen are more spread around, although much could depend on the contributions of our Fraser Watts and their Qasim Sheikh on returning from international duty with Scotland this week."
Compared to last week, Carlton will have Ben Duerden in for the unavailable Darren Spink, with every chance of promotion up the order for this regular opening bat.
Elsewhere, Grange, following a gritty victory over Watsonians, aim to close the gap on the only team above them, Greenock, when they head for Ayr.
At Myreside, Watsonians, who had youngsters Ryan Flannigan and Euan Chalmers in outstanding form last week, entertain Heriot's doubtless hopeful of improved catching which might well have cost them dearly.
Despite having two stitches inserted in a hand wound last week, skipper Gordon Drummond is listed to lead 'Sonians, who at least collected four bonus points for their endeavours at Grange.
In Division One, Penicuik face a tough task at leaders Aberdeenshire.
The only unbeaten team in the Premiership, RH Corstorphine, have home advantage for a Division Two derby against SMRH, while Edinburgh visit leaders Dunfermline
The full article contains 652 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
