THE president of Dunfermline and Carnegie Cricket Club is hopeful that their ‘one team, one dream’ mantra will lead them to a successful season.

Dejesh Deenadayalan, who took over the role for 2023, has outlined his vision of creating a “community club for everyone” and is confident that they can enjoy a memorable campaign.

Based at McKane Park, the club are fielding three teams in the East Scotland Cricket Association leagues, with the first XI hoping to challenge for promotion to Division One.

Although they lost their opener narrowly at Kelso at the weekend, Deenadayalan, who has been involved with Dunfermline and Carnegie for four years, and whose son also plays, is confident about their prospects, and about the strength of the club more broadly.

“It’s making sure people feel that it’s their club,” he told Press Sport ahead of the club’s opening league fixtures.

“We follow something called one team, one dream. We’re just trying to make it a community club for everyone to get involved and make the best use of it.

“With three teams, it’s going to be busy. We have new and old members coming and joining us, so we’re looking forward for the rest of the season to be honest. We just want everything to be nice, peaceful and quiet after last season.

“The goal we’ve set for the first XI is that we’re playing Division Two, so we’re trying to secure a promotion this year for Division One. For team two, we’re in Division Six, and we’re looking to go to Division Five.

“The third team are playing in Division Eight just now, so we’ve just started. The third team is mostly a mix of kids and experienced adults. It will be a good mix, and learning for the kids as well.

“I’m pretty confident the first team will do really well this season. We’re looking forward to the season, just to make sure we cut out the drama, play simple cricket, the members enjoy themselves, and make sure it’s one team, and everybody’s got one dream to improve the club.”

The first XI were beaten by 10 runs on a wet wicket at Kelso, with player / coach, Steve Rowley, top scoring for the West Fifers.

“The batting conditions were very difficult, but we should have been able to get 90 runs on the pitch,” skipper George Olney said, in relation to trying to match their opponents’ total.

“Perhaps we were too relaxed chasing a small score, and we failed to capitalise on a strong performance in the field.”

The first XI welcome Selkirk to McKane on Saturday, whilst the seconds (pictured) go to Stewart’s Melville fours, after defeating Tranent and Preston Village second XI by 20 runs.

Dunfermline and Carnegie’s third XI lost their opener to Tranent and Preston Village fours.