AN INDIFFERENT batting performance saw Dunfermline and Carnegie Cricket Club's first XI fall to a second defeat in three matches on Saturday.

The McKane Park team were in East of Scotland Cricket Association (ESCA) Division Two action at Kelso, aiming to add to their first win of the campaign at home to Kirk Brae the previous week.

However, they lost by four wickets, leaving them eighth out of 10 teams in the division in its early stages.

For a third successive match, Dunfermline and Carnegie were asked to bat first and, in awkward conditions, lost early wickets.

At one stage, the visitors found themselves on a score of 60 runs for seven, 28 of which came from captain, Daniel Styer. 

It needed a patient 46-run partnership between Ravi Varma and Saurabh Nautiyal to take the score past three figures.

When they stepped up to the crease, Kelso did not find scoring runs easy either, but a solid, unbeaten half century by Josh Gibson guided them to victory, although he was dropped twice by the visitors.

Dunfermline and Carnegie will aim to return to winning ways this Saturday when they host RH Corstorphine second XI at McKane, with a 1pm start.

Dunfermline and Carnegie first XI (6) 120, R Varma 29, D Styer 28, S Nautiyal 22, G Davidson 3 for 19, J Connelly 2 for 27, L Langmead 2 for 28.

Kelso (20) 124 for 6, J Gibson 52 not out, L Langmead 22, Y Arfat 3 for 24, D Styer 2 for 28.

Dunfermline and Carnegie's second XI, however, enjoyed a more fruitful afternoon as they secured their third successive win in Division Five.

They hosted Melrose (pictured) after wins over Stewart's Melville third XI and Gala second XI, which followed their opening day loss at Livingston second XI, and they edged out the Borders outfit.

Batting first, the hosts took an aggressive approach, scoring more than four runs an over for the most part.

Dunfermline Press: There was joy for the second XI on Saturday.There was joy for the second XI on Saturday. (Image: David Wardle.)

Nishi Nithiyannathan hit 59, including four sixes, to help Dunfermline and Carnegie to a total of 208, which proved to be challenging for Melrose.

However, the away team batted solidly, but ended up just 38 runs short as Dunfermline and Carnegie moved into fourth place in the standings, ahead of a trip to Watsonians third XI this Saturday (1pm).

Dunfermline and Carnegie second XI (20) 208 for 8, N Nithiyannathan 59 not out, B Callan 37, S Ali 35, M Ashraf 30, N Rogerson 2 for 28, R Common 2 for 36.

Melrose (9) 170 for 9, J Wojcik 37, C Scott 36, K Piyumal 3 for 32, N Nithiyannathan 2 for 42.

In Division Eight, there was also joy for Dunfermline and Carnegie's third XI, who picked up their first win of the campaign.

They hosted Marchmont fourth XI at The Cairns, home of Broomhall Cricket Club in Charlestown, and a solid batting performance set them up for success.

A century from James Spreng, and 31 from Arav Dejesh, were the mainstays of the home side’s total of 211 and, while Marchmont also batted well, they were never really up with the required run rate and finished 47 runs short.

This Saturday, they are due to visit Murrayfield DAFS fifth XI for a 1pm start.

Dunfermline and Carnegie third XI (20) 211 for 4, J Spreng 100, A Dejesh 31, C Bond 19, I Nath 2 for 33.

Marchmont fourth XI (7) 164, S Sunil 41, A Sheikh 33, F Lovell 3 for 43, J Parsonage 2 for 16, A Dejesh 2 for 25.

Meanwhile, Broomhall were not in action in SPCU (Strathmore and Perthshire Cricket Union) Division Two due to having a free week.

They are scheduled to visit Tay Lions this Saturday at midday.