FALKLAND completed a memorable week with a surprise win over Eastern Premier champions Aberdeenshire at Mannofield.

Just seven days after upsetting leaders Grange, the Fifers showed it was no fluke with a battling victory in the Granite City sunshine.

They would surely have expected to be chasing more than 115 when the Dons won the toss and elected to bat. However, a brilliant display by Scotland seamer Safyaan Sharif kept Falkland on top throughout the first innings.

'Shire had looked steady when posting 30-1 from the first 10 overs, but they failed to compile meaningful partnerships as Sharif kept chipping away to claim five key wickets.

Falkland's reply wasn't all plain sailing as the Dons fought back to dismiss four batsmen. But an unbroken stand of 43, during which Wayne Sullivan stroked an unbeaten 44, secured a six-wicket win.Aberdeenshire's fourth defeat of the campaign leaves them with too much to do to retain their title, especially since Grange recovered from last week's loss to beat Watsonians.

The leaders had John Blain to thank for preserving their place at the top, as the former Northants, Yorkshire and Scotland star gave the national selectors another nudge with a brilliant display of pace bowling.

Grange were in danger of slipping to a second consecutive defeat after making just 130 at Myreside, but Blain ripped through the home batting line-up to claim 8-32 as Sonians were skittled for 74.

Only Aberdeenshire's Adrian Neil, with his record-breaking 10-31, boasts a better return this season.

Arbroath have emerged as Grange's main rivals after a gutsy win over Carlton at Grange Loan.

The visitors showed grit with the bat, recovering from 89-7 to post 222-9, skipper Marc Petrie and Bryce Carnegie (both 66) leading the recovery.

Arbroath's bowlers then pegged Carlton back from 82-1 to dismiss them for 123, spinners Ross McLean and Craig Ramsay sharing eight wickets.

Elsewhere, Ryan Watson turned the clock back for the second week running. The Forfarshire and former Saltires skipper again scored a century, this time as the Forthill side beat Heriot's by five wickets.

Watson finished unbeaten on 100, at one point putting on 50 in just four overs with Scotland's Michael Leask, who hit a rapid 63.

In the Western Union's top match, leaders Clydesdale consolidated their position after producing an excellent run-chase to win at Dumfries.

The hosts, needing victory to establish themselves as contenders to repeat their 2012 success, posted a challenging 239.

It was an innings punctuated by injuries to two Clydesdale fielders, sparking the unusual sight of team manager Colin Mitchell taking to the Nunholm ground as an emergency fielder.

Mitchell could resume his place on the sidelines to watch contentedly as Majid Haq and Richie Berrington both scored half-centuries in a three-wicket success sealed in the final over. Kelburne remain second after beating champions Ayr at Cambusdoon, with Zeeshan Bashir claiming three wickets on his debut for the Paisley side.

East Kilbride rekindled their title hopes with an emphatic win over Drumpellier at Torrance House.

Beaten a week ago by Kelburne, EK hit back with contributions from all their top-order batsmen.

Craig Smith led the way with a hard-hitting 64, including 10 boundaries and two maximums, while Muhammad Ramzan also posted a half-century.

Ross Lyons fell two short of that landmark but entertained spectators with four sixes as the hosts pushed their tally to 244, while Humza Sabri and Roshan Sajjad claimed three scalps each.

Drumpellier lost wickets at regular intervals as all the home bowlers enjoyed success in a 51-run win, despite the innings of the match from Asid Mohammed who stroked five sixes in a defiant 87.

Elsewhere, Jamey Carruthers claimed seven wickets as Ferguslie stayed in contention with a 124-run over West of Scotland at Meikleriggs.