CRAIG Wallace emerged as the prime performer as the Eastern Premiership beat the elements to get off to an action-packed start.

Aberdeenshire opened their title defence with a straightforward away victory over Falkland - but it was Forfarshire skipper Wallace who hit the ground running to inspire his side to glory against Heriot's.

The Goldenacre spotlight may have been on the BT top-flight rugby decider between the home club and Melrose, but wicketkeeper Wallace fired a timely reminder at the Scotland management, who left him out of their World Cup plans. He smashed an unbeaten 162 to propel the Broughty Ferry brigade to 293 for eight, an impressive tally on an April pitch and outfield. Wallace did the damage off only 142 balls, his last 62 coming from just 18 blows.

The thrilling innings - his 12th ton for the club - featured six sixes and 12 fours.

Wallace was given stout support from Matty Parker and new recruit Michael Leask and the target was always likely to be comfortably out of the scope of a home side under the leadership of Keith Morton for the first time.

Heriot's set off on their pursuit at a lively rate, but wickets tumbled at regular intervals in the face of tight Forfarshire bowling. Liam Sweeney was the pick of the attack, breaking through four times at the cost of 27 to send the locals sliding to 162 all out.

Veteran Steve Knox was the only Heriot's batsman to offer solid resistance and was marooned on 80 not out when the curtain came down.

Across in Fife, Adrian Neill and Callum Martin were Aberdeenshire's destroyers-in-chief, snuffing out the challenge of Falkland in a one-way affair at Scroggie Park.

Martin's hard-hitting 81 not out - from 41 balls - guided them to 254 for eight and then Neill claimed a six-wicket haul to clinically complete the 140-run success.

The astonishing batting form of Hamish Gardiner continued at Lochlands, where Carlton surged to a seven-wicket victory over Arbroath. Gardiner had whacked a century in each innings to carry Scotland's second string Xl to a win against their Durham counterparts in midweek and he carried on where he left off, but missed out on a ton by just two runs.

Arbroath - without the suspended Fraser Burnett - had boldly opted to bat after winning the toss. They recovered from early jitters to make 214 for nine. Skipper Marc Petrie led the revival with 64.

But with Gardiner and Scotland captain Preston Mommsen in such rich form, such a total wasn't likely to pose a significant problem.

Chris Greaves produced a remarkable all-round performance to spur Glenrothes to a Champion- ship demolition job on Penicuik at Kirkhill. First, he bagged five cheap scalps as the home team were pegged to 160 for nine, Kris Steel hitting 81. Then Greaves strolled to 100 not out in the uninterrupted chase, which was completed in the 27th over.

Robbie Birrell also made 100 not out as Freuchie overpowered Holy Cross by 49 runs at Muir Road.

Ryan Flannigan's knock of 82 helped Grange to a 75-run Edinburgh derby victory over Watson- ians at Raeburn Place, while Stoney- wood-Dyce beat promoted RH Corstorphine by seven wickets.

On Saturday, the Western Championship begins with Ayr launching their title defence against East Kilbride at New Cambusdoon.