DUNFERMLINE Knights skipper Gowtham Rai heaped praise on international all-rounder, Safyaan Sharif, after the club had qualified for the 2011 Scottish Cup final by beating Arbroath United.

Things did not look good for the Fifers on Sunday as the Red Lichties piled on the runs in the McKane Park semi-final and were 174 for two with still 14 overs remaining.

The skipper summoned the Scotland player back into the attack and Sharif responded by grabbing the key wickets of the visiting professional, Harsha Vithana, and his partner Harry Byrnes-Howe, who had shared a 119 run stand.

The innings faltered and Dunfermline successfully chased the target set them by Arbroath to set up a final meeting with Uddingston, ironically at Arbroath, on Saturday 20th August.

Said Rai, "Safy's second spell was magnificent and got us back into the game for it looked at one stage as if we were going to have to chase a really big score of more than 270. The bowlers stuck to their task and the batsmen made good contributions and it sets us up for our second national cup final in only three years." Arbroath won the toss and took first lease of a hard strip and made a steady start but it was when Vithana, who survived an early appeal for a catch behind, was joined by overseas amateur Byrnes-Howe, that the scoreboard started to really tick.

The total raced past 150, with still only two wickets down and it took double change, with Sharif and Vasu Reddy taking over, to change the course of the game.

Sharif dismissed both the heavy run scorers and Reddy kept it tight and then the return of Stevie Smidt into the attack ended any Arbroath hopes of an impregnable total.

Sharif and Smidt both ended with three for 30, from nine overs, as the hosts were set a target of 222 to make the final.

The Dunfermline reply got a good start from player/coach Kevin McLaren and skipper Rai with the latter playing very aggressively, but when the captain departed for 25 and Wynand Schmitt flashed at a wide delivery and was taken behind, visiting hopes were raised.

McLaren accumulated solidly but went on 28 and it was left to New Zealander Smidt to steady the innings.

He put together an excellent 47 and along with Amir Shazhad (27) kept the board moving but the loss of both these players caused concern amongst the home supporters.

Enter Reddy, who has been short of runs in recent times, but he went on the attack and crashed several boundaries.

His partnership with Cammy Farrell ensured that the home side needed only two off the last over and Farrell smashed the first ball to the boundary to start home celebrations.

Arbroath United 221 for nine, H Byrnes-Howe 71, H Vithana 65, S Sharif three for 30, S Smidt three for 30. Knights 224 for six, S Smidt 47, V Reddy 39 not out, P Clark 2 for 27.

The previous day Knights took on Greenock in an SCL Premiership fixture at McKane needing a win to strengthen their mid-table status.

The home side won the toss and batted but made an awful start, losing wickets at regular intervals.

At 103 for six the Knights were in trouble and it was only when Cammy Farrell was joined by Amir Shazhad that things began to improve.

They added 40 and then Farrell and Sive Jayanthanan added 42 before the all-rounder put together a useful last wicket partnership with Yasser Arfat to take Knights to 218.

Greenock were relying on their Scotland player, Richie Berrington, to challenge their target but a fine spell by Shazhad accounted for him and at 85 for five things looked lost for the Inverclyde men.

Then came a spirited partnership between Hempsey and Baum which took the total past 170 but the Knights kept working away at line and length and they bowled the visitors out 11 runs short of the target.

Dunfermline play last Sunday's cup rivals, Arbroath, at Lochlands this Saturday in the Premiership.

Knights 218, C Farrell 74 not out, A Shazhad 27. Greenock 207, J Hempsey 54, A Baum 30, A Shazhad four for 46.

* Knights 3rd XI were involved in a low scoring East League Division eight match at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Knights made only 94 but the home side struggled themselves, on a difficult artificial surface and got home by only four wickets.

Knights III (5) 94, A Leitch 19, S Lucas 14. Murrayfield (20) III 95 for six, B Wilkinson two for 18, B Brown two for 23, S Lucas two for 30.

* Dunfermline Carnegie entertained East Division Four leaders Kirkbrae at Pitreavie on Saturday.

The Edinburgh side's attack kept the home batsmen pretty well contained and it took a patient knock of 43 by David Miller to allow them to reach a total of 132 in 50 overs.

Kirkbrae also found runs hard to come by but a solid 77 from Steve Colvin saw them home.

Carnegie (6) 132 for eight, D Miller 43. Kirkbrae (20) 133 for five, S Colvin 77, R Kitching two for 21, J Murray two for 50.

* Dunfermline Wanderers were at Dunbar and short of a number of regulars due to holiday commitments.

The visiting attack was soon under pressure against some aggressive batting and runs came at a quick rate as the home side took advantage of a very short boundary.

Wanderers found 270 a very difficult target to chase and ended up 177 runs short.

Dunbar (20) 270 for seven, D Dickson 95, S Callon 70, S Hitz three for 60. Wanderers (5) 93, S Lee 18, D Mitchell 14, D Humphrey four for two, S Vance three for 44.

* Wanderers met Livingston on Sunday in a Forth Union fixture and a fine knock of 64 by Sam Brenkel saw them post 142.

Livingston were always struggling and ended up some 36 runs in arrears.

Wanderers 142 for seven, S Brenkel 64, J Botha 32. Lvingston 106, D Tali 25, A Corby three for 18.

* Dunfermline Knights are holding a cricket summer camp for youngsters at McKane Park from 1st to 3rd August from 9.30am to 1.30pm each day. Coaches will include the club's 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 07886989463.