ABERDEEN-SHIRE were last night crowned the national champions after a five-wicket victory over Ayr at The Grange in Edinburgh.

The Eastern Premier winners knew they had been in a game but, in truth, Ayr gave themselves too much to do after a dreadful start left them 8-3.

Chasing 170 for victory, Aberdeenshire had the guiding hand of their pro Harsha Cooray to thank for sealing victory just when Ayr looked capable of performing the unlikely.

Aberdeenshire's opening was in contrast to that of their opponents, however, with Chris Venske surviving two lbw shouts from the lively Scott McElnea. It was to prove costly for Ayr.

Venske took advantage with a beautiful six over long-off and another four boundaries as he and Callum Howard put on 54 for the first wicket.

However, having made 30, he miscued a McElnea delivery and was well caught by Matthew McClymont as Ayr made the breakthrough.

'Shire were already well ahead of the required rate and conservative accumulation was all they needed to secure the title, but Ayr were clearly not going to go down without a fight.

Captain Andi McElnea emphasised the point by removing Howard for 27 with his first delivery and was rewarded for another bowling change when he brought back his brother Scott who promptly dismissed Hayes van der Berg. Ayr had a further two successes but paid the price for letting Cooray off the hook before he had scored.

The Sri Lankan took full advantage with a match-winning 54no, stroking just three boundaries but picking the gaps with great skill while Callum Martin gave solid support with 22no as the Mannofield side won with 13 balls to spare.

Kenny Reid, the Aberdeenshire captain, said: "Winning the Eastern Premier was a brilliant effort because it's a division that is full of quality sides and we had to show a lot of consistency. Now this win tops everything off brilliantly - we were worthy winners in the end."

Youngster Rory Martin made the most of the opportunity handed to him by the absences of Tyler Buchan and fellow seamer Adrian Neill as the Western Union champions were reduced to 8-3 in the third over.

Venske then took two scalps in a single over as the procession continued and Ayr, on 37-6, were in danger of total capitulation.

However, Dougie Johnstone, their most experienced player, produced the sort of controlled innings his team desperately needed with a battling half-century. Neil Logan offered spirited support as Ayr added 77 runs for the seventh wicket. Logan had stroked four boundaries before Martin returned to the attack and had him trapped in front for 29.

Scott McElnea's arrival at the crease brought acceleration, the former Scotland under-19 all-rounder striking the only six of the Ayr innings when he hoisted a Hamish Niven delivery over the rope at deep mid-wicket.

McElnea also hit four boundaries on his way to a 21-ball 30 but his exit, caught by Callum Martin off Cooray, left Johnstone running out of partners and he, too, was soon gone.

Elsewhere, Grange retained their Murgitroyd T20 Cup with victory over Clydesdale in the final at Shawholm.