DUNFERMLINE and Carnegie Cricket Club's first XI returned to winning ways on Saturday thanks to capital gains against Leith FAB.

The McKane Park outfit travelled across the Forth to Edinburgh for their fifth ESCA (East of Scotland Cricket Association) Division Two match of the season, and were victorious after two successive defeats.

Despite having to play on an awkward wicket at Leith Links, the visitors accumulated runs much more effectively than in recent outings, with skipper Dan Styer and Muhammad Rafiq both getting into the 30s.

Batting first, Dunfermline and Carnegie's total of 175 in 40 overs set the hosts, currently second bottom of the table, a severe test - and it was one they struggled to meet.

At one stage, they were on 10 runs for the loss of five wickets and, although they recovered a little, Styer and Yaser Arfat sent six batsmen out between them as Leith ended all-out for 76, losing by 99 runs.

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Dunfermline and Carnegie are sixth in the table, with a points percentage of 56, and host Edinburgh Accies second XI, at 1pm at McKane, this Saturday.

Dunfermline and Carnegie first XI (20) 175 for 7, M Shafiq 32, D Styer 32, Y Arfat 24.

Leith FAB (5) 76, A Mohammad 17, D Styer 3 for 11, Y Arfat 3 for 11, H Sultan 2 for 14.

On Sunday, a small piece of local cricket history was created when Motherwell Cricket Club visited McKane Park for the first time in a Scottish Challenge Cup first round tie.

Dunfermline and Carnegie scored strongly on batting first, with Styer hitting a half century and Richard Cox also scoring well, getting into the 30s.

The away side battled but found the target too much for them as the hosts progressed.

Dunfermline and Carnegie first XI 172, D Styer 57, R Cox 35, V Reddy 26.

Motherwell CC 87, Y Arfat 4 for 24, A Khan 2 for 19, D Styer 2 for 19.

Dunfermline and Carnegie's second XI moved into second top spot in Division Five after a fifth successive win.

Murrayfield DAFS third XI made the trip to McKane and saw the home team bat solidly on taking first lease after winning the toss, and a good knock by Muhammad Irfan saw him complete a well-made half century.

A target of 149 runs was simply too much for Murrayfield and they were soon 29 for six.

Although a brave innings by Tarun Kumar took them beyond 100, their 105 total left them 44 short as Dunfermline and Carnegie moved on to a points percentage of 85.83, behind Livingston second XI, who have 100 per cent after five wins from five matches.

This Saturday, they play Drummond Trinity fourth XI, at McKane, at 1pm.

Dunfermline and Carnegie second XI (20) 149 for 8, M Irfan 57, J Beverley 3 for 32, L Matthew 2 for 28.

Murrayfield DAFS third XI (6) 106, T Kumar 41, S Ali 3 for 16, M Ashraf 2 for 8, A Khan 2 for 31.

In Division Eight, Dunfermline and Carnegie's third XI slipped to a 46 run defeat against Watsonian fourth XI at The Cairns.

Batting first, the visitors put together a decent total at the home of Broomhall Cricket Club, and although Ralph Laing carried his bat for the home side, they finished short of the target set.

This Saturday, Dunfermline and Carnegie travel to play Westquarter and Redding second XI, for a 1pm start.

Watsonians fourth XI (20) 151, M Lancashire 46, J Tucker 28, J Parsonage 5 for 33, M Speirs 2 for 20.

Dunfermline and Carnegie third XI (7) 105, R Laing 44 not out, A Chauhan 3 for 12, A Fair 2 for 27, A Borthwick 2 for 27.

Meanwhile, Broomhall won the Strathmore and Perthshire Union, Division Two Fife derby by beating Glenrothes second XI by 64 runs on Saturday.

On taking first lease of the Gilvenbank track, Broomhall’s Scott Lucas and Ieuan Ward batted impressively, with the former scoring a good half century.

Glens found the bowling of Neil Ramsay challenging, and wickets fell steadily, leaving the hosts well short at the end of the game.

Broomhall play Dundee High School FP second XI this Saturday at The Cairns, with play starting at 1pm.

Broomhall (20) 156, S Lucas 54, I Ward 36, A Tawheedi 3 for 36, M Tayyiub 2 for 13.

Glenrothes second XI (7) 92, P Culleton 40, N Ramsay 4 for 15, I Ward 2 for 8.