Mazars Grange 310-4 (PL Mommsen 156*, AC Evans 2 for 68) beat Carlton 226 (MR Herdman 94, H Aslam 4 for 43) by 84 runs.

The pick of the second round of matches in the CSL Eastern Premiership saw 2016 champions Carlton take on Edinburgh rivals Mazars Grange at Grange Loan.

Contrasting fortunes on opening day had added an extra edge to the encounter, and whilst Carlton aimed to bounce back from their surprise defeat to Glenrothes, Grange crossed the capital looking to maintain the early momentum generated by their five wicket win over Heriot’s.

It was the visitors who were to claim the bragging rights as an imperious 156* from former Scotland captain Preston Mommsen propelled his side to an 84 run victory. Carlton, meanwhile, were left to reflect on a second loss as their disappointing start to the league season continued.

An unusually dry spring in the east has been reflected in the early season pitches and the hard, lightly grassed surface here offered the bowlers plenty of bounce and carry. The outfields are much quicker than might be expected too, of course, and after the visitors elected to bat first Grange opener Ryan Flannigan got his side underway with a gentle push through cover which fairly skipped across the turf to the boundary.

The former Scotland man was to fall to the first ball of the second over, however, as newcomer Grant Keddle pinned him in front for 5. It was quite an introduction to Scottish league cricket for the West Country-born seamer and, at 5-1, the visitors had been dealt a significant early blow.

Any early concerns they might have had were quickly dispelled, however, as incoming batsman Mommsen took a firm grip on proceedings. With six boundaries and two sixes, the pick of the latter a swivel-heeled pull over the rope off Ali Evans, the Grange skipper looked a class apart as he raced to a 54-ball half century.

At the other end, after a guarded start, Haris Aslam began to play with more freedom as the partnership developed. An extraordinary on-the-walk pull for four off Cameron Shoebridge was followed by back-to-back sixes off Cheeky Gosain as the ex-Carlton all-rounder cut loose. The slow left-armer was to have the final say, however, as Rory McCann held on to a good catch in the swirling wind to send Aslam (46) on his way, but at 133-2 after 25 overs and with in-form batsman Neil McCallum coming out to join his captain Grange looked ominously placed.

After scoring 80 against Heriot’s McCallum was quick to find his stride again, helping himself to consecutive boundaries off former teammate Arun Pillai as the fifty partnership arrived at virtually a run-a-ball.

The afternoon belonged to Mommsen, however, as he reached his hundred with a driven single off Pillai in the 38th over. With eleven boundaries and two sixes over 119 balls it was a beautifully crafted innings, alternately aggressive then watchful as Aslam and then McCallum looked to press, and with overs to spare and wickets in hand both batsmen now looked to accelerate over the closing stages.

With spinners operating from both ends the slog-sweep was proving to be particularly effective for McCallum and he reached a 56-ball half century with successive blows over the deep midwicket boundary. Mommsen was also enjoying himself, first clearing the rope to bring up the 150 partnership and then reaching the same landmark himself thanks to his seventeenth boundary of the innings.

Although McCallum (73) was to fall late on, Pillai taking the catch to end another impressive knock from the former international, Mommsen’s 153-ball innings, with eighteen fours and three sixes, had proved to be the foundation of a strong total.

The task facing Carlton became all the more challenging as first Fraser Watts (1) then Kyle Macpherson (10) were caught behind to give Gordon Goudie and James Tapper the first wickets of the innings. Although Michael Herdman and Rory McCann looked in good touch for the home side, both timing the ball beautifully for early boundaries, the required run rate continued to climb against consistent and accurate bowling, and with 25 overs gone, the score at 94-2 and an asking rate touching nine the game was rapidly slipping away from the champions.

Although Herdman continued to play his shots, reaching a 71-ball fifty, the departure of McCann for 47 proved a decisive blow. The Irishman had become the third batsman to perish in the gloves of Harris Carnegie, this time off the bowling of Aslam, and when Pillai (5) followed shortly after, caught-and-bowled by Tom Foulds, any lingering home hopes had been all but extinguished.

With seven fours and two sixes Herdman played beautifully for his 94, but after he fell in the 41st to a catch by Andrew Brock off the bowling of Bodie Hodges the end came swiftly. Despite some lusty late blows Aslam claimed his fourth wicket as Carlton were dismissed for 226 to seal a comfortable Grange victory with almost four overs to spare.