HOLDERS Carlton and Grange will tonight make a third attempt to fulfil the final of the annual Murgitroyd Masterton Twenty20 cricket final, at Grange Loan (6.15pm), after two previous efforts were washed out.
Delays meant that, inevitably, representative calls will have a bearing on the final with Grange set to be without Neil McCallum, Gregor Maiden and Giles Holmes, who are in Scotland's European Championship squad for the opening three matches in Irela
nd, starting tomorrow.
However, with Carlton's Fraser Watts not travelling until next week when the tournament concludes with full one day internationals against the Netherlands and Ireland it is possible that the international batsmen could be a mainstay of a bid to complete a hat-trick of titles.
Another key figure could be Carlton's Rob Thornton who has cut back on weekend matches but is still capable of making a notable contribution although that could be offset by Grange all-rounder Stuart Davidson's ability to take advantage of the short boundary on one side of the ground.
Carlton also hold the psychological advantage after beating Grange by 30 runs in a low-scoring encounter in last year's final.
Tonight's winners go forward to the inaugural Scottish finals on Sunday week at Poloc where the latest qualifiers are Clydesdale having overcome Greenock in the West regional section last night. They join Dunfermline and Dumfries who overcame St Boswells by ten wickets in the Borders final.
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