DUNFERMLINE and Carnegie Cricket Club's first XI produced the shock result of the East of Scotland Cricket Association Division Two weekend with victory at leaders RH Corstorphine second XI.
The McKane Park outfit inflicted the first loss of the season on their capital opponents and helped the club complete a hat-trick of wins, with the second and third XI's also victorious.
It is the first time since the third XI was created two years ago that all three sides have won on the same weekend, and the first XI's success retains hopes of a promotion push.
A heavy shower of rain shortly before the scheduled start at The Royal High School, Barnton, saw the contest reduced to 30 overs-a-side.
Taking first lease of the pitch, Dunfermline and Carnegie steadily accumulated runs, despite an awkward batting surface, with Dylan Wood, Vasu Reddy and Haider Sultan all moving into the 20s.
As the total moved over 100, and in the conditions, 125 was going to be a test for RHC but they made a good start.
With 60 runs on the board, and with only two wickets down, they seemed to be favourites, but then wickets began to fall, with Bruce Callan's bowling posing real problems.
The home side’s lower order collapsed and they fell 31 runs short, the result cementing Dunfermline and Carnegie’s fourth position in the table, and if the team can win their closing four fixtures they could still be involved in the promotion mix.
On Saturday, they host Leith FAB at McKane Park, with a 1pm start.
Dunfermline and Carnegie first XI (20) 125 for 9, D Wood 23, V Reddy 22, H Sultan 20, G Clement 2 for 8, H Aslam 2 for 19.
RH Corstorphine second XI (7) 94, N Murray 33, F King 26, B Callan 4 for 22, A Xavier 2 for 30.
In Division Five, Dunfermline and Carnegie second XI moved closer to promotion with an 11th successive win against Watsonians third XI at McKane Park.
On winning the toss, the hosts batted first, and the scoreboard rattled along at more than five an over, with Muhammad Shafiq and Sohael Ali both making half centuries.
A total of 216 was always going to be difficult for the visitors to chase, and good bowling by Stanley Wilson, Kasun Piyumal and George Olney saw wickets fell steadily as Watsonians finished 112 runs in arrears.
This Saturday, they travel to the capital to play Murrayfield DAFS third XI.
Dunfermline and Carnegie second XI (20) 216, M Shafiq 61, S Ali 50, G Olney 24, J Till 3 for 19, J Stevenson 2 for 10.
Watsonians second XI (7) 104, D Bryen 54, S Wilson 3 for 7, K Piyumal 3 for 21, G Olney 3 for 23.
The hat-trick of club wins was completed with a fine performance by the third XI against Murrayfield DAFS fifth XI, in Division Eight, at The Cairns.
Murrayfield put together a very useful total of 176, but the home reply was solid with Matty Spiers playing the sheet anchor role.
An excellent contribution from Dejesh Deenadayalan, and a blistering innings from Manbir Singh, which saw him cruise past 50 to guide the side to an eight wicket win in only 35 overs.
This Saturday, the third XI visit Edinburgh South fourth XI.
Murrayfield DAFS fifth XI (6) 176, A Smith 109, C Wood 3 for 10, C Bond 2 for 33, D Deenadayalan 2 for 34.
Dunfermline and Carnegie third XI (20) 180 for 2, M Singh 69 not out, M Spiers 32 not out, D Deenadayalan 32.
Meanwhile, Broomhall won their Strathmore and Perthshire Cricket Union Division Two match with St Modan's second XI at Bannockburn by nine wickets.
That was their sixth victory from 10 outings this season, leaving them eighth in the 14-team table, with a points percentage of 68.4.
This Saturday, they host Master Blasters Aberdeen at The Cairns.
St Modan’s 64, Broomhall 68 for 1.
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