A MUCH better batting performance laid the foundations for Dunfermline and Carnegie's win at Murrayfield DAFS on Saturday, which saw them strengthen their position at the top of the East of Scotland First Division table.
Their convincing 36 run win, at Roseburn, allied to defeats for their nearest challengers, saw them go seven per cent ahead of the new second top side, Stewart's/Melville second XI, who they play in Edinburgh this Saturday.
After their batting issues in the recent defeats suffered against Tranent/Preston Village and RH Corstorphine second XI, DCCC skipper, Vasu Reddy, decided to take first lease of the Roseburn pitch on winning the toss.
But the visitors were shocked at losing opener, Muhammad Shafiq, second ball of the match, then Bilal Amjad and Zane Schlebusch repaired the damage with a solid partnership which took the total towards the half century.
Schlebusch was one short of 50 when he was dismissed, but solid batting by Julian De Jager and Reddy saw the total move well into three figures.
A total of 198 was always going to test Murrayfield, and they made an indifferent start losing wickets to good bowling by Amjad, Schlebusch and De Jager, but fine work by Bradley Peter and Angus Girvan got them back in the match.
The DCCC attack kept prizing batsmen out though and the hosts eventually found themselves well short of their target.
It all sets up another interesting test for the McKane Parkers at Inverleith this weekend.
Dunfermline and Carnegie (20) 198, Z Schlebusch 49, B De Jager 37, V Reddy 24, B Peter 3 for 32, V Tyagi 3 for 41.
Murrayfield DAFS (10) 162, B Peter 35, A Girvan 27, B Amjad 2 for 16, S Nathan 2 for 31, B De Jager 2 for 34, M Shafiq 2 for 35.
AN impressive performance against Drummond/Trinity third XI, at McKane Park, on Saturday, saw Dunfermline and Carnegie second XI move to within a fraction of one per cent of the top of Division Four.
The skipper of the twos, Baz Ashraf, inserted Drummond/Trinity on winning the toss, and wickets fell steadily throughout the innings.
Despite a late flow of runs the visitors were all out for 102 and in the reply brisk innings by Ahmed Syed saw DCCC home in just 20 overs.
The win moves them on to 93.13 per cent, behind Grange 3rd XI on 93.33 per cent, but more importantly 16 per cent ahead of third top Morton 2nd XI
Drummond/Trinity (3) 102, S Gudathi 33, S Kumar 30, B Amad 3 for 30, A Syed 2 for 2, M Ashraf 2 for 17.
Dunfermline and Carnegie second XI (20) 106 for 2, A Syed 39, S Verma 28 not out M Sarfraz 20 not out.
DUNFERMLINE and Carnegie third XI stretched their lead at the top of Division Seven with a comfortable win over Peebles County at Whitestone Park.
Peebles used all of their 40 overs, but never really relaxed the grip the threes attack had on them with Albin James again taking wickets and conceding few runs, while Upendra also was effective taking three victims.
The DCCC reply started wellt hrough Himanshu Sharma and DJ Deenadalayan and then Akhil Anand finished things with a swift 42 giving the team a win which takes them 12 per cent ahead of third place, in the top spot.
Peebles County (5) 112 for 8, K Easter 29 not out, P Caddick 24, A James 3 for 14, A Upendra 3 for 8.
Dunfermline and Carnegie third XI (20) 115 for 2, A Anand 42 not out, H Sharma 31, D Deenadalayan 23.
DUNFERMLINE and Carnegie made the last eight of the Scottish Challenge Cup on Sunday with a big win at Irvine.
The Fifers batted first and it was an important day for Julian De Berg, who completed his first century in Scotland since his move here some years ago.
In reply West of Scotland side, Irvine, kept looking for runs but ended up losing by 62 runs.
Dunfermline and Carnegie 264 for 6, J De Berg 119, Z Schlebusch 69, S Gawande 3 for 37.
Irvine 202, P Neil 56, S Gawanda 51, S Santharaj 2 for 25, S Nathan 2 for 48.
DUNFERMLINE and Carnegie fourth XI made it four straight league wins for the club over the weekend when they took on Edinburgh side, the Botanics, at McKane Park on Sunday, in Division Nine.
It was a grand day for young Cormac Leitch, who made a half century, then took two wickets as the visitors were contained well by the home side.
Dunfermline and Carnegie fourth XI (20) 188 for 6, C Leitch 53 not out, V Arnulathan 49, R McAuliffe 2 for 25, J Rowe 2 for 38.
Botanics (7) 136, R McAuliffe 35, R Jaiswall 3 for 21, C Leitch 2 for 21.
DUNFERMLINE and Carnegie Development found Watsonians fifth XI too powerful for them at Myreside, on Sunday, in a league fixture.
Watsonians fifth XI (20) 206 for 9, L Morris 71, P Crundon 39, B Afghan 3 for 32, E Glass 2 for 23.
Dunfermline and Carnegie Development (8) 127 for 8, J Millar-Doughty 34, E Glass 24, B Afghan 20.
BROOMHALL found Strathmore second XI a little too strong for them in the Strathmore and Perthshire Cricket Union Division 2 match, at The Cairns on Saturday.
Batting first Broomhall found the Strathie attack hard to master, but a fine innings by Jack Hynd helped them post 91. Strathmore also found free scoring difficult but got home with six wickets in hand,
Broomhall (4) 91, J Hynd 39, S Lucas 19, S Naizal 3 for 18, S Gopal 3 for 31.
Strathmore second XI (20) 92 for 4, M Mudie 23 not out, N Hazel 20. S Panchal 2 for 28.
