Onwards and upwards for rejuvenated Saltires

THE Grange is fast becoming a graveyard for English county hopes after Northamptonshire were swept away by the rejuvenated Scottish Saltires in Stockbridge last night.

The Saltires, so used to propping up the Totesport League, sit pretty this morning in seventh place in the C&G Trophy's north conference - a point ahead of Leicestershire and Warwickshire, and four clear of Northamptonshire - after back-to-back wins.

This one, by a margin of 52 runs, was a romp to savour.

This band of amateur Scots and Australian imports have rescued their season in some style. Not since the heady, halcyon days of spring 2003 had the Saltires won twice in a row in a county campaign.

Worcestershire were caught out in a truncated match two weeks ago and a similar fate here befell Northants, who loom as serious wooden spoon rivals.

But with five games left, the Saltires will feel that the only way is up. Perhaps a true impact can be made on a county competition for the first time. Corey Richards and Ryan Watson are in electric form, both recording half-centuries yesterday as the Saltires made 202-6, and the bowlers are proving fiercely difficult to get away when there are runs in the cupboard. Catches are sticking, too.

Richards is not the only overseas player with the heart for a battle. Ian Moran swept through Northants' lower order to dismiss them for 150 and claim remarkable figures of 5-28 plus a man-of-the-match award. But the visitors were swinging in desperation by then. The frontline bowlers had tightened a vice and Northants never looked like slipping free.

"We had a good win two weeks ago and the boys did well in midweek against Namibia, so that's three wins in a row and it's looking up," said Moran, who was excited about next week's double-header at Derbyshire and Yorkshire.

"We are full of confidence now and going down the road to face two good teams, but hopefully we can get two more wins and get people to notice us. Our cricket has improved a lot and there were four or five top catches today."

After overnight and morning rain the match was reduced to 36 overs per side, and Scotland were put in. But shortened situations seem to suit Richards down to the ground.

Asked again to prosper in a hurry, he produced a magical cameo of 73 to follow his 88 against Worcester. He promised the Saltires 500 runs from his nine games and is primed to honour the pledge after scoring 224 in the opening four matches, and at the rate of a cheetah. He has faced 206 balls.

Yesterday the 30-year-old Sydneysider opened with Ian Stanger and punched his first ball through long-on for four. Stanger's presence as a foil ended when he edged a quicker ball from Lance Klusener to slip, but 37 were already on the board. After ten overs Richards had moved on to 41 and the Saltires a healthy 56.