Carlton put in an inspired bowling performance to defeat Watsonians and win the Citylets Scottish Cup final for the first time in their history at Forthill.

On a sunny afternoon in Broughty Ferry, Carlton posted 232 all out batting first, thanks to 61 from Ali Evans, 42 from Fraser Watts and 41 by Ali Shah.

In reply Watsonians were well set thanks to some great batting by Mike Carson who went on to make 109, but some brilliant late bowling saw Carlton win by 36-runs.

The previous day Carlton had been bowled out by the same opponents for 84 and when they lost Tom Simpson LBW to Andy McKay in the first over they may have been fearing the worst again.

In the fifth over Michael Herdman was caught smartly by Watsonians’ captain Ewan Chalmers off McKay’s bowling.

Things got worse for the Grange Loan men when former Irish international Rory McCann was caught behind by wicketkeeper Andy Hislop off the bowling of Nel and it was 30-3.

They reached 37-3 from 10 overs and then opener Fraser Watts and Arun Pillai batted together until the 18th over when the latter was out.

He was caught behind off the bowling of Scotland under-19 man Oli Brown and it was 61-4.

By drinks they had moved onto 85-4 with former Scotland batsman Watts batting with Ali Shah.

Watts was next to fall for 42 with the score on 107-5 and when Fraser Boyd and Angus Beattie were out cheaply it was 121-7.

In the 40th over left hander Shah was stumped for 41 and it was 154-8 and skipper Evan and vice-captain Chayank Gosain came together.

They put together a great partnership and in the 49th over Evans hit consecutive sixes off McKay and brought up his 50 in the process.

He then hit another maximum and although he was out for 61 and Gosain (30) in the last over they had hoisted their team up to 232 all out.

Spinner Tom Cullen was the pick of the ‘Sonians bowlers with 3-40.

In reply Watsonians got off to a good start, Carson and Brendan O’Connell putting on 80 together until the latter was caught out in the deep by Beattie off Evans’ bowling.

Right hander Carson reached his half century and Watsonians passed the 100 mark before Beattie gave his team hope with the wicket of Ewan Chalmers.

Carson and George Munsey then moved things on and in the 38th over the former reached his century.

However a couple of balls later Gosain had Munsey caught out to give Carlton hope and ‘Sonians were 167-3.

Andrew Chalmers was then out in the next over to Arun Pillai caught and bowled and when Aman Bailwal was out LBW the next ball Carlton were right back into things.

Watsonians needed 62 to win from the last 10 overs, but they lost their sixth wicket when Carson went for 109 and then Nel followed him and they were 183-7.

When Hislop went LBW to Gosain, Watsonians still needed 42 from five overs.

And in the end they were 196 all out.

Citylets Scottish Cup final scorecard

Carlton won by 36-runs

Carlton won the toss and decided to bat

Carlton innings

Batting:

Fraser Watts               bowled O’Connell 42
Tom Simpson              LBW bowler McKay 0
Michael Herdman        caught E Chalmers bowler McKay 14
Rory McCann              caught Hislop bowler Nel 0
Arun Pillai                   caught Hislop bowler Nel 15
Ali Shah                     stumped Hislop bowler Cullen 41
Fraser Boyd                bowler Cullen 2
Angus Beattie             LBW bowler Cullen 2
Ali Evans (C)               bowled Nel 61
Chayank Gosain          run out (A Chalmers) 30
Cameron Shoebridge   not out 0

Extras                        25

Total                         232 all out

Bowling:

Andy McKay               2-61  from 10 overs
Dewald Nel                 2-39 from 9 overs
Aman Bailwal              0-36 from 10 overs
Oli Brown                   1-15 from 4 overs
Tom Cullen                 3-40 from 10 overs
Brendan O’Connell       1-33 from 7 overs

Watsonians innings

Batting:

Mike Carson               bowled Beattie 109
Brendan O’Connell       caught Beattie bowler Evans 30
Ewan Chalmers (C)      caught Boyd bowler Beattie 0
George Munsey           caught Pillai bowler Gosain 21
Andrew Chalmers                caught and bowled Pillai 0
Aman Bailwal              LBW bowler Pillai 0
Andy Hislop                        LBW bowler Gosain 12
Dewald Nel                 caught Gosain bowler Pillai 2
Oli Brown                   caught Herdman bowler Beattie 1
Andy McKay               not out 1
Tom Cullen                 run out (Shah/Boyd) 4

Extras                        16

Total                         196 all out

Bowling:

Ali Evans                    1-35 from 8 overs
Michael Herdman        0-25 from 8 overs
Cameron Shoebridge   0-30 from 3 overs
Chayank Gosain          2-33 from 9.2 overs
Angus Beattie             3-38 from 8 overs
Arun Pillai                   3-33 from 10 overs