DUNFERMLINE and Carnegie Cricket Club defeated both the weather and Holy Cross Accies second XI on Saturday to strengthen their promotion challenge.

The match was limited to 30 overs a side, and the West Fifers were put into bat by their hosts.

On a decent Aboretum Road pitch, they started well through player-coach, Steve Rowley and Martin Honeyford, as the scoreboard ticked along at five runs an over.

With Dan Pearson joining Rowley, the score raced beyond 100. The coach was three short of a century when he was dismissed, and good work by Yaser Arfat saw the visitors' total exceed 200.

Bottom side Holy Cross found a seven-an-over target hard to maintain and, although good batting by Clemens saw him take their total past 75, wickets kept falling and some tight bowling by the visitors saw a comfortable win with the weather closing in.

An injury to Rowley, which may keep him out for a couple of weeks, with his first delivery of his spell was the only blemish on Dunfermline and Carnegie's day, who have now won all six of their matches played so far.

All-rounder Vasu Reddy said: "With rain around it was important we got amongst the Holy Cross batting as quickly as possible and if we can win at Selkirk this coming Saturday it would put us in a strong position."

Dunfermline and Carnegie (20) 219 for 6, (S Rowley 97, D Pearson 32, Y Arfat 29 not out, C Lothian 2 for 50).

Holly Cross Acccies second XI (6) 90, (T Clemens 56, Y Arfat 2 for 9, M Honeyford 2 for 28).

In Division Four, Broomhall saw their chance of getting a big win in their own promotion campaign thwarted by the weather.

Taking on Edinburgh CC third XI at The Cairns, Broomhall had contained the visitors to 203 but had just started their chase when heavy rain forced the players off.

Edinburgh third XI 203 for 8, (H Jamil 56, M Razzaq 50, C Hawthorne 2 for 38, T Lucas 2 for 44).

Broomhall 19 for 1.

Conversely, Dunfermline and Carnegie's second XI had the rain to thank for avoiding defeat at the hands of Edinburgh South second XI in a Division Seven match at McKane Park on Saturday.

The home side struggled to make 90, and with the visitors closing in on their target, the heavens opened and the game was abandoned.

Dunfermline and Carnegie second XI 90, (L Jack 32, I Barron 12 not out, K Maldun 4 for 18, J Singh 3 for 11).

Edinburgh South second XI 56 for 2.