DUNFERMLINE and Carnegie Cricket Club's first XI secured their first win of the season to get their East of Scotland Cricket Association Division Two campaign up-and-running.

The McKane Park outfit, who set their sights on promotion before the first ball was bowled, fell to three straight defeats to open their season, but a man of the match display from player / coach, Steve Rowley, inspired them to victory on Saturday.

They hosted Kirk Brae and Rowley's three-wicket bowling performance, and an unbeaten 70 with the bat, ensured the 20 points against their opponents.

The visitors from Edinburgh started brightly on batting first, rattling along at five-an-over, but fine stints by Rowley and Yaser Arfat saw that change.

Wickets began to fall and, after collapsing to 110 for seven at one stage, a late surge saw them finish with a total of 142 all-out.

Dunfermline and Carnegie put 30 runs on the board pretty quickly in their reply, but an amazing catch by the Kirk Brae first slip saw Raja Khurram dismissed when he looked menacing.

Skipper George Olney then joined Rowley in a 79-run partnership which guaranteed victory, with the pair scoring freely, despite a lot of bowling changes.

Rowley completed his half century, and guided his team over the winning line in partnership with Chris Hill.

"We bowled and fielded superbly, taking some great catches, and that opened the door for the victory," Olney said.

"It was a superb batting performance from Steve Rowley which completed a much better day for us, but we have to build on that at Edinburgh CC this weekend."

Kirk Brae (5) 142, A Hussain 31, S Khan 28 not out, Y Arfat 3 for 19, S Rowley 3 for 29, C Hill 2 for 33.

Dunfermline and Carnegie (20) 143 for 2, R Rowley 70 not out, G Olney 31, R Khurram 19.

Meanwhile, in Division Eight, Dunfermline and Carnegie's third XI went down to Marchmont fourth XI, in a match played at The Cairns, home of Broomhall Cricket Club.

The visitors scored 240 runs and, despite batting gamely to reach 100 themselves, Dunfermline and Carnegie went down by 140 runs.

In Division Six, Dunfermline and Carnegie's second XI travelled to Dunnikier to play the home side's second XI, under the impression the match was to be played on grass.

Upon arrival, they were, however, informed the game would be played on an artificial pitch, with the club stating: "We had received no notification of this as per the rules and, with none of our players having the right footwear to play on astroturf, fhe game could not fairly go ahead."

In the Strathmore and Perthshire and Strathmore Cricket Union set-up, Broomhall took on Glenrothes, and emerged with a seven-wicket win.

Glenrothes 96, N Ramsay 4 for 27, E Breen 2 for 12.

Broomhall 97 for 3, C Hoefling 47, N Ramsay 27.