DUNFERMLINE and Carnegie Cricket Club moved closer to safety in Division Two of the East of Scotland Cricket Association league with an 11 run win over Carlton third XI on Saturday.

On winning the toss, the visiting West Fifers batted first at Peffermill, and needed a good innings from skipper, Raj Khurram, to post a defendable score in a match that was reduced to 35 overs-a-side due to variable weather conditions.

He received decent support from Inja Vijapura, Steve Rowley and Bruce Callan, but the Dunfermline side knew they would have to bowl well to win the match.

Yasar Arfat set the tone, conceding just 17 runs from his seven overs, and his opening partner, Vasu Reddy, was equally as tight and struck twice to put Carlton on the back foot.

The hosts struggled to maintain the required run rate and, at the end of their allotment, were 11 runs short of the target.

The win means that only a bizarre sequence of results in the closing two sets of fixtures would drag Dunfermline and Carnegie back into trouble, although they play promotion chasing Royal High Corstorphine second XI, and Tranent and Preston Village, in their final matches.

Khurram commented: "It was a good all round performance and we will be looking to repeat it in our last two games looking for wins."

Dunfermline and Carnegie (20) 152, R Khurram 42, I Vijapura 22 not out, B Callan 13, S Rowley 12, S Haggo 3 for 12, B McKay 3 for 12.

Carlton third XI (9) 141 for 7, P Kentish 43, B Scott 32, V Reddy 2 for 14, R Khurram 2 for 30, B Callan 2 for 27.

In Division Six, Dunfermline and Carnegie's second XI produced a superb performance in the field to defeat table toppers Gala second XI to keep themselves in the mix for promotion.

Dunfermline and Carnegie were asked to bat first at McKane Park and started well, with David Miller and Dylan Wood posting telling contributions.

Once they were dismissed, however, the hosts lost seven wickets for 10 runs, and were all out for 108.

In the field, though, they looked sharp and took some good catches, with the introduction of spinner Kasun Piyumal sending wickets tumbling fast.

He took five, for as many runs, in seven overs to help Dunfermline and Carnegie to a victory that leaves them fourth in the table, but only one per cent behind second-placed Dunnikier.

With the top four teams playing each other in the closing two fixtures, a pair of victories could open the door to Division Five.

Dunfermline and Carnegie second XI (20) 108, D Miller 38, D Wood 28, S Loumeau 3 for 15, R Gilchrist 3 for 34.

Gala second XI (6) 71, A Sujam 16, K Piyumal 5 for 5, S Wilson 2 for 8.

Meanwhile, in the Strathmore and Perthshire Cricket Union Division Two, Broomhall maintained their promotion chances with a dramatic one run win over Freuchie second XI on Saturday.

Coming on the back of a loss at Glenrothes in the Fife T20 Cup last midweek, they were put in to bat and did so sensibly in difficult conditions.

Ieuan Ward once more led the way, with his contribution helping the Charlestown side to a total of 110, but Freuchie also played sensibly at the crease, with runs arriving steadily.

However, Broomhall's Euan Breen was in fine form, taking three wickets to set up a thrilling final over, which saw the hosts only able to pick up three runs from four required.

Broomhall 110, I Ward 60, N Millar 13.

Freuchie second XI 109, E Breen 3 for 16.