Published: Thursday, 2nd July, 2009 9:30am

Drizzle decision costs disappointed Knights top spot

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A CONTROVERSIAL umpiring decision cost Dunfermline Knights top spot in the SNCL Division 1 at Penicuik on Saturday.

The Knights won the toss and elected to bat but, with a light drizzle having persisted for two hours, Penicuik refused to play and were supported by the umpires.

After an early tea the drizzle stopped but the umpires ruled that the outfield was too wet and the match was called off at 3.40pm.

A disappointed Knights spokesman claimed, 'In terms of league rule 13d play can commence if conditions are such that if play was in progress play would continue.

'The umpires refused to adhere to this rule.'

Knights lost top spot in the league as their rivals Stirling County played and took 10 points against Stenhousemuir to go top.

Tonight (Thursday) the Knights travel to Falkland to play the semi-final of the Caledonian section of the Murgitroyd Twenty 20 competition (start 6pm). On Saturday the Knights hope to resume their league campaign against Ferguslie in Paisley.

* Dunfermline second XI continued their winning ways at the weekend with victories over West Fife rivals Carnegie on Saturday and Townhill on Sunday.

Against Carnegie, Dunfermline Carnegie captain Matthew Lafferty elected to bowl first. A heavy drizzle made the ball wet and the Dunfermline openers took advantage of this, posting the first hundred opening partnership of the season with Jordan Davidson and Chad Sebatta both getting half centuries.

The innings of the day, however, came from Stuart Campbell, who came in to bat at number four and ended up with a tally of 102 not out, hitting the last ball of the innings to the boundary for four.

Carnegie took up the chase but lost wickets early on to some suicidal running and some great bowling.Veteran Keith Graveling really shone, finishing with five wickets for the cost of a miserly 18 runs. Carnegie"s only resistance came from Neil Harris (22) and Gavin Ross (26) but they were eventually all out for 88.

On Sunday a slightly depleted and injured Dunfermline hosted Townhill.

Dunfermline skipper David Miller elected to bat but they got off to a bad start, losing both openers early on. However, David Hinds put on a 50 partnership with Matthew Jones (17) and the able assistance of Ben Bregazzi (22). However, once Hinds went for 50 the runs dried up and the hosts ended up with a score of 186 for 8.

Townhill took up the chase and got off to a poor start, losing wickets at a steady pace. At 58-7 all looked lost, however, J Hynd and Drew Smith put on a great partnership which brought the game to within reach, both getting to the 50 mark before Jordan Davidson got J Hynd caught out. Then Dave Hinds ended Drew Smith"s charge with a stumping by Kevin Walker, his 500th victim in cricket - for a keeper a great landmark.

This ended Townhill"s chances with the final tally ending at 156 all out.

Dunfermline 283 for 4, (S Campbell 102 no, C Sebatta 59, J Davidson 50). Dunfermline Carnegie 88, (K Graveling 5 for 18). Dunfermline 186 for 8, (D Hinds 50). Townhill 156, (D Hynd 52, D Smith 55).

Next up for Dunfermline second XI is SMRH at McKane Park on Saturday.

* At a drizzly and then dry Cairns Park, Broomhall, Kismet seconds put Broomhall seconds in.

After a fine start of 55 before the first wicket went, Broomhall collapsed to 63-4, not helped by a dubious out off a no-ball.

Ian Bold and 13-year-old Luiean Ward put on a brilliant 94 partnership, with Broomhall ending on what looked a winning score of 215, after Matt Howis scored 18 off six balls.

But, after losing their opening bowler and batsman to the firsts, Broomhall had to reshuffle the bowling attack. Despite taking a wicket in the first over, Kismet climbed to 94-3 after 20 overs, with Sohail Ali and Jamie Cochrane in full flow with the bat. Paul Gudgin and Phil Ward put the screws on the batting a little with tight bowling and a few wickets, leaving Kismet 70 to win in 10 overs with four wickets standing.

Luiean Ward bowled the last four overs at the bottom end and did so superbly, taking 1-19 off the four overs and bowling the last over for just four runs and a wicket when needing 16 to win.

Broomhall remain top of the table with this, their eighth successive victory.

This week the firsts are at home to Clackmannan and the seconds away to Preston Village.

Broomhall 2 215-9, (I Bold 39, I Ward 36, I Barron 28, M Ahmed 3-49). Kismet 2 201-9, (W Ali 39 no, S Ali 35, J Cochrane 30, M Howis 3-28, P Gudgin 2-29).