Clydesdale are the undisputed club champions of Scottish cricket after a comprehensive six-wicket win over Heriot’s in the CS Grand Final at Grange Loan. In the annual clash of Eastern Premier and Western Premiership champions, 'Dale completed a memorable double, having also beaten Heriot’s in the Scottish Cup final a fortnight earlier.

The writing was on the wall for the capital side from the moment Rafay Khan bowled Peter Ross with the first ball of the match. Heriot’s soon collapsed to 16-3, skipper Lloyd Brown being run out before Ravi Alavala took a return catch to remove Dougie Voas. 

Hopes of a comeback from the Eastern Champions turned to Vian Maritz and Charlie Cassell who managed to take the total to 47 before Zeeshan Bashir entered the fray to claim the first of his four wickets when Maritz, having reached 14, offered a catch to Kallum Dhami.

Cassell continued to offer more sustained resistance but Bashir was in full flow, trapping Ryan Brown in front and deceiving Joe Kinghorn-Gray on either side of Sheryar Awan dismissing Jared Rubly.

It was left to Adrian Neill, on his last appearance prior to emigrating to Australia, to join Cassell in the most substantial partnership of the innings, the pair adding 51 before Cassell became Awan’s second victim, departing to James Galling’s catch having made 49 with four boundaries and a maximum.

Bashir returned to bowl Main before Neill, having scored a valuable 74-ball 27, edged Awan to give Galling his fourth catch of the innings as Heriot’s were dismissed for 136 in 42.1 overs.

Bashir completed a memorable campaign with 4-18, taking his tally for the season to 38 in eleven matches at an average of just 5.63. He may be 37 but, having been on the fringes of the national team fifteen years ago, he should surely be in the thoughts of the current Scotland selectors. 

In reply Dale lost Paddy Barbour with just one run on the board but Awan completed a fine all-round display with a fluent 48, featuring nine boundaries, before Craig Young stroked 40no as the Glasgow side cruised to their target with more than twenty-two overs to spare.

Clydesdale are just the third team from the west to win the Grand Final in twelve years, following in the footsteps of Prestwick and Ferguslie.

Meanwhile, Freuchie’s hopes of a long-awaited return to the Eastern Premier were dashed when Watsonian bounced back to the top flight at the first time of asking in the EPL Promotion Play-off at Scroggie Park.

The Fifers were on course when, having dismissed the Edinburgh side for 165, Werner Brand and Robert Wiseman put on 71 for the first wicket.

However, when South African Brand was bowled by Gareth Wetherall for 56 from just 42 balls Freuchie lost their way, Wiseman following soon after, bowled by Gregour Carr for 13.

Ieuan Ward was the only other batter to reach double figures, matching Wiseman’s 13, as the ‘Sonians bowlers took charge, claiming the last eight wickets for 28 as Freuchie were all out for 118 in 31.5 overs.

Skipper Weatherall was the leading bowler with 4-26 while Carr claimed 3-35.

Earlier there had been a familiar onslaught from Ollie Hairs and Mike Carson who put on 81 for the first wicket before the latter departed for a run-a-ball 38.

There was a spirited fightback from the Fifers with Jeandre Niemann picking-up the prize scalp of Hairs, trapped in front for a 38-ball 53 including seven boundaries and two maximums.

Niemann finished with 3-29 and Scott Birrell 3-43 while Brand mopped-up the tail with 4-17 but lower order contributions of 25 and 24 from Kenneth Rae and Carr proved crucial.