A CHANCE visit to watch her brother in a cricket training session has seen a Dunfermline girl hooked on the game.

Not only has Holly Wilkinson (16) become an all-rounder good enough to play for Scotland's under-17 ladies' team, she has scored the Dunfermline Knights' book in the SCL Premiership and is also a handy with a camera around a cricket ground.

Indeed, on Sunday she leaves for Cumbria with the Scotland 17's squad for a four day tour.

Holly, from Whitemyre Court, only got involved when dad Gary suggested that she should go up to McKane Park and watch younger brother Ben, who now plays for Scotland under-15s, taking part in a training night.

She said, "Three years ago I was at a bit of a loose end one night and dad suggested I go up and watch Ben training.

"I was a little bit reluctant but along I went and I ended up getting involved in the session." Since then the pupil at Beaconhurst School, Bridge of Allan, has worked hard at the game and is a regular in the Knights' third team and has caught the eye of the Cricket Scotland selectors.

"One day the club's colts team was short. I was asked to play and really enjoyed it and that made me realise that cricket was a sport I wanted to be part of," she added.

"I played with the colts and then a couple of years ago I was asked to play for the Knights' third team and have become a regular." How does she feel playing in the men's game? "I was a bit unsure how I would be received at first but to be honest I soon found out that in the East League there are several ladies taking part on a weekly basis," she explained.

"The lads really are very kind and in one game, where I scored a few runs, I was presented with the match ball by the opposition which was rather humbling." Holly picked up her scoring skills when she did the third XI book for part of a season and now she steps into the shoes of the Knights' first XI marker, Ken Nisbet, when he is on Scotland duty.

Having received a camera for her birthday last year, she only discovered this season that she could take good cricket shots.

The right hand bat and seam bowler added, "I took the camera along to a game Ben was playing in and took some shots which came out quite well.

"Now if I go to watch a game I take along the lens and start shooting and it is something I really enjoy." Holly's cricket pictures have appeared in Press Sport and she has an ambition to get her shots published on the Cricket Scotland website.

The teenager, who just wants to continue to improve her game, admits that brother Ben's success has given her the desire to strive to succeed.

"To be honest because he is doing so well, both with the club and in his international outings, it spurs me on to do well myself."