DUNFERMLINE Knights have progressed in national cup competitions but let SCL Premier Division leaders Carlton off the hook on Saturday.

At McKane Park, the Knights were in total command for the first 45 minutes against the Edinburgh side as Carlton slumped to 32 for 3. At this stage Preston Mommsen was dropped by Safyaan Sharif and this was to prove very costly. However, with the visitors at 58 for 3 after 16 overs the Knights were still in charge But their attack was put to the sword in a partnership of 255 between Mommsen and Scotland captain Gordon Drummond with both players hitting centuries.

The visitors amassed the formidable total of 348 for 5 with Mommsen making 152 and Drummond 114 not out.

An aggressive partnership between skipper Gowtham Rai and Wynand Schmitt enabled the Knights to race to 54 in eight overs but after both were dismissed, Kevin McLaren was run out carelessly while both Sharif and Aamir Shahzad followed shortly after. A good partnership between Stevie Smidt and Cameron Farrell enabled the Knights to stay in the game but the formidable Carlton total was not threatened and Dunfermline remain in 10th place.

Carlton 348 for 5; Dunfermline Knights 223 for 6, (S Smidt 62no, C Farrell 45, W Schmitt 30).

On Sunday, at McKane, Dunfermline moved into the third round of the Scottish Cup with a convincing win over Championship side RH Corstorphine.

The Knights scored a tidy total of 286 for 7 against Corstorphine in the second round of the competition. Kevin McLaren top-scored with 66 and Cameron Farrell weighed in with 65 not out, while Vasu Reddy struck an aggressive 58 off 37 balls, batting lower down and carrying a groin injury.

Corstorphine were handily placed at 124-2 one ball prior to the drinks break when a ridiculous run-out changed the course of the match. Corstorphine were then restricted by the off-spin bowling of McLaren with figures of 10 overs, one for 28, with the visitors' innings petering out and the home side winning by 33 runs.

In the draw for the third round the Knights have been paired with Grange at home, the match to be played on Sunday 19th June.

Dunfermline Knights 286 (K McLaren 66, C Farrell 65 not out, V Reddy 58); Corstorphine 233 for 9.

The Knights qualified for the semi-finals of the Murgitroyd Caledonia section of the Scottish Twenty/20 Cup at Forthill last week.

Forfarshire were restricted to 151 for 9 in their 20 overs.

An impressive opening stand between captain Rai and Schmitt put the Knights on course for victory before an imperious innings from Aamir Shahzad enabled the Knights to coast home with nine balls and nine wickets remaining.

Forfarshire 151-9.

Knights 154-1, (W Schmitt 57 not out, A Shahzad 54 not out, G Rai 35).

In East League Division Four Carnegie beat a Knights XI at Pitreavie on Saturday by 12 runs.

Carnegie made 176 with John Hynd among the runs but in the Dunfermline reply only teenager Ben Wilkinson looked solid, making an unbeaten 70.

In Division Eight the Knights' thirds made 95 batting first at Townhill which Murrayfield/DAFS fourths covered with the loss of only two wickets.

This weekend Dunfermline Knights travel to Broughty Ferry to take on joint Premiership leaders Forfarshire.