Knights aim for second Scottish Cup final in three years

After beating West of Scotland in Glasgow last Saturday Dunfermline face Premiership strugglers Greenock at McKane Park on Saturday and then entertain Arbroath United in the cup semi-finals on Sunday.

The Knights' inconsistency has seen them continue to occupy the lower half of Scotland's top cricket division this season but they go into their match with Greenock knowing that a win could push them into the top half of the table.

The club's Tom Gibson said, "Arbroath will provide tough opposition for they have surprised a few of the bigger sides in the league and are currently in second top spot in the Premiership.

"We will have to be at our best to get through to the final but that is our aim. The first target, though, is a win over Greenock to achieve our first-back-to-back league victories of the season." The side will be at full strength this weekend, barring any training injuries tonight (Thursday) and included will be all-rounder Safyaan Sharif, fresh from appearing in Scotland's historic double CB 40 success over Northants and Warwickshire, at Citylets Grange, on Sunday and Monday.

He made 13 not out and took one wicket against Northants in a 12-run win. The match against Warwicks was reduced to 22 overs-a-side, due to wet weather, and he made a single and bowled a couple of cheap overs in a four-run victory.

Knights went to Hamilton Crescent on Saturday realising that another reverse could plunge them into relegation trouble.

But their response in the field, after the start was held up due to the effects of leaking covers, was not encouraging as they gave away more than 25 cheap runs.

Through former Scotland regular, Dougie Lockhart, the home side built a decent total in a game reduced to 45 overs-a-side.

He accumulated 71 and a breezy effort from Singh helped the hosts post a score of 204 despite some good bowling from Amir Shazhad, who took three wickets.

The Dunfermline reply got off to a shaky start but a solid partnership between Stevie Smidt and Shazhad soon got them back into the reckoning but just as they were looking to attack the rain came and forced the players off the field.

The Duckworth/Lewis system set the West Fifers a new target of 199 in 43 overs.

Smidt and Shazhad steered them on course and some aggressive work by the late middle order and tail ensured victory, with Cammy Farrell finishing things off with a towering six.

West of Scotland 204 for six, (D Lockhart 71, J Singh 52, A Shazhad three for 35); Knights 202 for seven (D/L), (S Smidt 48, A Shazhad 46, S Reddy 26, D McNulty 3 for 30).

This success came a couple of days after the club won the Fife Cup with a comfortable final win over Falkland at Freuchie on Thursday night.

Skipper Gowtham Rai led the way with a knock of 65 and he had good support from Jordan Davidson and Sharif. Indeed, the first wicket partnership between Rai and Davidson yielded a quick 65.

Championship side Falkland were never really in the hunt as the Knights' bowlers dominated but they accumulated a respectable total, eventually falling 59 runs short.

Knights 171 for 4, (G Rai 65, S Sharif 39, J Davidson 34); Falkland 112 for 4.

The Knights' second XI lost by 28 runs in an East League Division Four game at McKane Park on Saturday.

University Staff (20) 188, (S Chandran 101, S Davidson 3 for 24); Knights II (9) 160, (N Service 52, J Penman 36, M Beg 28, A Bagchi 3 for 29).

On Sunday the Knights' thirds lost by seven wickets to Holy Cross III at McKane Park in an East Division Eight match.

Knights III (3) 81, (S Lucas 44, R Ellis 4 for 18); Holy Cross III 82 for 3, (A Graham 24, S Lucas 3 for 31).

Knights are holding a cricket Summer Camp at McKane Park from 1st to 3rd August from 9.30am-1.30pm each day. Coaches will include overseas amateurs Stevie Smidt and Wynand Schmitt and first team player Cameron Farrell.

Cost for the three days is £25. Apply to Nancy Gibson on 07886 989463.