GORDON Goudie may not figure on the radar of the Scotland backroom squad these days, but he showed again at the weekend that he is still one of the most potent pacemen in the country.
Granted, the conditions at Raeburn Place were pretty much ideal for him, but he turned back the clock with a superb spell that paved the way for league co-leaders Grange to cruise to victory against capital rivals Watsonians.
Goudie snapped up the first five wickets of the jittery Sonians innings as they limped to 160 all out - leaving the stage clear for the hosts to scoot past the target with just one man down.
He reflected: “It was another great result in what has been a strong start to our campaign.
“The heartening aspect is that different players have contributed each week and there is a great feeling in the group at the moment.
“Personally, the ball has been coming out of the hand very nicely. It is always nice to come off with a five-for to your name.”
At one stage, Watsons were crumbling on 11 for four, Goudie having removed Andy Learmonth, Ben O’Connell, Ewan Chalmers and ex-Grange chum George Munsey.
Andrew Chalmers (80) offered stout resistance, but when Goudie dismissed Aman Bailwal (20) Grange didn’t slacken their grip and Goudie finished with five for 27 from his 10 overs.
Ryan Flannigan (69 not out) and skipper Preston Mommsen (38 not out) completed the rout after the early departure of Harris Aslam.
Mike Herdman emerged as the main man as champions Carlton stepped up their revival with a clinical demolition job on Aberdeenshire at Grange Loan.
The Aussie made light of the awkward conditions to strike a solid 104 to propel the home side to 245.
He then claimed three cheap wickets to seal the 29-run success.
The contest was effectively over when Herdman removed Dons skipper Chris Venske for six - the batsman having survived two chances before his stumps were shattered.
Glenrothes captain Safyaan Shariff insisted his charges had the rough end of the rain-restriction regulations as Heriot’s gathered a tense and precious win at Goldenacre.
The international all-rounder stated: “The Duckworth Lewis formula played a big part when we had to chase.
“A target of 179 in 31 overs is tough at the best of times, so I think we did pretty well to get within five runs of getting the verdict.
“We will take lots of positives from the experience and we know that our fielding and catching could have been better.
“That gave Heriot’s more runs than they should have had.”
Home skipper Keith Morton added: “It was a big relief to get over the line in the end.
“The series of rain stoppages took the momentum out of the match and turned it into a scrappy affair.
“We were not at our best, so that made the result all the more welcome.”
Morton added: “One big plus was the display of our Zimbabwean amateur Sean Hinmers.
“He worked hard against the bowling of Safyaan to grind out a half century which proved crucial.
“He then stuck well to his bowling plan.”
Forfarshire captain Umair Mohammed insisted there is no panic in the camp in the wake of their fourth loss in a row - this time to derby rivals Arbroath, who head Grange at the top on run-rate.
Mohammed declared: “We have been playing some really goo cricket and it is disappointing that we haven’t been able to convert that into the results we have been wanting.
“I think we just need a little bit of luck and we should be earning more for our efforts.
“I am certainly not getting disheartened because the boys are giving me everything and they are fighting all the way.
“We have to remember that our team has a low average age.
“There is a tremendous amount of quality there and it is only a matter of time before we start to pick up the wins.”
Matty Parker top scored with 61 as Forfs reached 176 at Forthill, Calvin Burnett and Brendon Fort sharing an eight-wicket haul.
The tally proved to be no great challenge to Arbroath, for whom Ford (55) and Ross McLean were the mainstays.
Falkland remain rooted at the foot of the table, thanks to their 17-run loss to newly promoted SMRH at Scroggie Park.