Published: Thursday, 4th June, 2009 9:00am

Brilliant batting maintains Knights' unbeaten record

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DUNFERMLINE KNIGHTS maintained their unbeaten record with a brilliant batting display at Arbroath.

The Knights won the toss and batted first with Beg and Rakshit taking the score to 49 after nine overs before both were dismissed. A scintillating partnership of 229 in 37 overs from professional Alistair Gray and Vasu Reddy – which included many boundaries – enabled the Knights to post a score of 325-5. Gray was unbeaten on 146 while Reddy contributed 130.

Arbroath played positively in reply and after 16 overs were 100-1. The introduction of the spinners, Azhar and Gray, not only checked the scoring rate but also saw wickets fall. The second wicket in particular was worthy of note when Azhar held a brilliant one-handed return catch. Arbroath were finally dismissed for 206 with the Knights winning by 119 runs.

Dunfermline 325-5, (Gray 146 no, Reddy 130). Arbroath 206, (Gray 5-29, Azhar 3-54).

This Saturday the Knights entertain Forfarshire at McKane Park.

The only anticipated change to the team is Barnes for Davidson.

Dunfermline Knights" 3rd XI have recorded back-to-back wins to maintain their top two position in East League Division 8.

Alan Leitch (37) and 13-years-old Scott Lucas (5-13) were best for them against Largo 4th XI and Matt Jones (34 no) and skipper Jim Stark (2-9) were top performers against Drummond Trinity.

l Dunfermline are remembering former professional Duncan Carter, who died last year at the age of 68, at McKane Park on Sunday, 21st June when the first XI entertain Freuchie in the Scottish Cup.

Anybody who knew Duncan and would like to attend the tribute that is to be paid to him on the day should contact Eric Spreng on 07989 907710 or eric.spreng@btinternet.com.

l A determined effort in the field was not enough to stop Dunfermline Carnegie from slumping to a four-wicket defeat against SMRH in Edinburgh on Saturday.

Carnegie batted first in blazing sunshine and got off to a solid start as Lafferty and Lindsay put on 30 for the first wicket. Both openers fell in quick succession, bringing Mitchell and Honeyford to the crease.

A partnership of 46 followed before Honeyford was bowled for 35.

A series of run outs hampered the Carnegie innings and it was left to Mitchell to guide Carnegie to 153-6 with an important 51 not out.

Carnegie were missing several first-choice bowlers but still managed to make early in-roads into the SMRH batting.

Mitchell bowled an outstanding spell of 3-16 off nine overs, while leg-spinner Monty Urolagin bowled wonderfully with no luck. An excellent innings of 53 not out from Hannam saw SMRH reach their target for the loss of six wickets.

Captain David Mitchell praised his side, saying, 'It was good to see guys bat responsibly and field so well, especially in the heat.'

Mitchell himself was named Man of the Match for Carnegie, who host Edinburgh University Staff this weekend.

l Broomhall seconds recorded their fourth successive win with a 103-run win against Largo fours in East League Division 8 on Saturday.

At a sunny and hot Broomhall, Largo fours put Broomhall in. After losing two quick wickets, Ian Barron carried his bat for 77 not out, sharing stands of 54 with D Drummond, 63 with M Warren and 53 with P Ward, who pulled a hamstring during this stand, preventing him bowling, and Broomhall reached 194.

Broomhall, with two of the main bowlers now injured and missing most of the bowling attack to the first team, started to tighten their grip on the game, keeping the score down to just 20 off the first 12 overs for the solitary loss.

Then Steve Garratt, in his first game of the season, went for 28 in his first three overs, ending on 8-3-33-2.

Broomhall 2, 194-6 (I Barron 77 no, D Drummond 33, P Ward 21, M Warren 21, S Gillespie 3-40). Largo 4s 91, (S Fleming 24, I Bold 6-3-3-3, D Drummond 3-12).