EAST LEAGUE:

FRASER Watts, just turned 16, was thrilled to have been called up for

first-team duty, especially since the match was going Carlton's way.

They had dismissed Royal High for 119 and a mere 30 runs were required

for victory with nine wickets in hand.

The visitors' professional, Pakistani Test player Manzoor Elahi, dug

deep for one last effort to turn the tide. Suddenly three wickets went

down for six runs.

No need yet to pad up, thought the lad who was listed to come in at

No.10. The 100 was posted, only 20 needed, but immediately two more

wickets fell. Eleven short of the target and another two dropped,

requiring the boy to walk out and face an internationally experienced

bowler, with seven wickets under his belt and the scent of blood.

With incredible coolness, the youngster tamed the bowling as he and

his partner nursed the score ever closer to the target. Up charged the

pro, the ball was short enough and wide enough, and the boy cut it to

the boundary for the winning runs.

Later, as he sat in the dressing-room savouring the moment, there was

a knock on the door and there stood the Pakistani star. Warmly he

congratulated the lad, wished him well and graciously presented him with

a pair of batting gloves.

While his colleague Hugh Parker, Carlton president, was contemplating

a distinguished contribution to the game from which he retired on

Saturday, this highly talented youngster looks to have a glittering

career ahead of him and is set to join the Durham Cricket School to

develop his skills.

Elsewhere, Stenhousemuir's failure to get the better of Corstophine at

The Tryst scuppered their chance of pipping Watsonians for the crucial

fifth position, despite the latter's defeat by champions Heriot's at

Goldenacre.

At Falkland, Edinburgh Academicals gained the better of a drawn match,

while at nearby Freuchie, big innings from Peter Steindl (91) and Alec

Davies (70) generated a final win for Grange.