Smith keen to level the score with Scotland's Watson

BASSETERRE, St Kitts, Mar 19 (Reuters) At school, Graeme Smith used to fetch and carry for an older boy called Ryan Watson and tomorrow's World Cup clash at Warner Park could be payback time.

South African skipper Smith will come face to face again with Watson, now his counterpart with World Cup whipping boys, Scotland.

''We played cricket together at school and later at the same club ... he used to fetch drinks for me and carry my bags,'' Watson said on the eve of his teams' Group A match.

''I don't know if he'll do that tomorrow -- but I'll ask him.'' While he may have relished ordering around Smith during their time at King Edward School in Johannesburg, Watson will probably be the one doing all the running tomorrow as the South Africans aim to hit the ball all over and out of the tiny ground.

After seeing Australia crush the Scots by 203 runs, South Africa will be eager to torment them further.

Although Smith now captains the world's top ranked side, Watson revealed he was not always such a hot shot.

''At school he was limited in his strokeplay but he was amazingly strong mentally,'' said Watson, who at 30 is four years older than Smith.

Watson was born in Zimbabwe but moved to South Africa at the age of 11. The pair also played club cricket together and their friendship survived Watson's move to Scotland.

Smith admitted playing against Watson may turn out to be an odd experience.

''It's going to be a bit weird to walk out to ... spin the coin with a South African,'' Smith said.

Watson will be standing in for regular skipper Craig Wright, who will be absent from the match due to a family bereavement.

REUTERS PDS PM0333