AN "exceptional" performance saw Dunfermline and Carnegie Cricket Club's second XI come out on top in a winner-takes-all promotion clash on Saturday.

McKane Park was the venue as the team took on Morton third XI knowing that victory would see them make the jump up from Division Six of the East of Scotland Cricket Association leagues, which they achieved in emphatic fashion.

In June, Dunfermline and Carnegie had lost the reverse fixture to the Edinburgh side by 41 runs, and a points percentage of just three per cent separated them from their second top opponents going into the game.

On being asked to bat, Morton looked to post a big score, but they never got going against some good bowling by the hosts.

A varied home attack were in complete control as the visitors could only muster 89 runs from 37 overs batted, with Steve Rowley and Dylan Wood not needing to take any chances in reply as runs arrived steadily.

Dunfermline and Carnegie passed the target in the 29th over without loss, giving them a huge 10-wicket win, and sealing promotion to Division Five by finishing second in the table behind Gala Cricket Club second XI.

Skipper Alan Leitch, who missed the game through injury, commented: "It was an exceptional all-round performance, and by moving up a division, this narrows the gap in playing standards between the first and second teams."

Morton third XI (1) 89, R Prasanna 17, V Reddy 4 for 17, S Rowley 2 for 17.

Dunfermline and Carnegie second XI (20) 92 for 0, S Rowley 43 not out, D Wood 32 not out.

In Division Two, Dunfermline and Carnegie's first XI secured fourth place despite struggling in their final match at Tranent and Preston Village.

Having secured safety in the weeks prior, the visitors were also assured a top-five finish going into the game at Polwarth Oval, but a strong innings from the promoted hosts saw them post a total of 214 after their 40 overs.

The West Fifers struggled to respond, and could only muster 77 runs in reply to fall to a heavy defeat by 137, but they finished one place higher in the final table than last season.

Tranent and Preston Village (20) 214 for 5, D Russell 44 not out, M Mohan 43, G Olney 2 for 26.

Dunfermline and Carnegie (4) 77, B Callan 18, R Kamal 3 for 20, D De Silva 3 for 30.

Dunfermline and Carnegie's third XI ended their Division Eight campaign on a positive note at Livingston fourth XI.

After winning the toss, Livingston chose to bat and posted a target of 135, but the visitors responded with 136 to secure an eight-wicket success, and their third win of the season.

Livingston fourth XI (5) 135 for 6, E Jones 43, F Lovell 3 for 27.

Dunfermline and Carnegie third XI (20) 136 for 2, C Bond 49 not out, A White 29 not out.

Elsewhere, Broomhall ended their Strathmore and Perthshire Cricket Union Division Two season with an away win over Kinloch third XI.

The Charlestown side batted well, with Ieuan Ward hitting a fine century, and their total was just short of 300, which Kinloch never threatened.

Broomhall 298 for 9, I Ward 139, C Breen 37, N Ramsay 37, R Bowman 3 for 39, G Singh 3 for 5.

Kinloch third XI 129, G Singh 61, E Breen 3 for 34, C Breen 2 for 7.

On Sunday, McKane Park hosted the Fife Cup Finals day, with Dunfermline and Carnegie, Dunnikier, Glenrothes and Falkland competing.

In the first T20 semi-final tie, Dunfermline lost by eight wickets to Dunnikier, while in the other semi, Falkland were too strong for Glenrothes.

The final saw Dunnikier post a useful score of 141 and, at one stage, Falkland were needing eight an over to win the trophy.

However, some explosive hitting saw them get home by five wickets, with an enjoyable day's play watched by a crowd of over 100 people.