CLYDESDALE beat the elements and their closest challengers to take another significant step to securing the Western Union title at Titwood on Saturday.

While much of Glasgow basked in one of the better days of this cold and wet summer, storm clouds gathered above the south-side venue while East Kilbride, having won the toss, worked their way to 123-5.

With seven overs remaining, the visitors, having laboured in testing conditions early on, had laid a platform from which they might have hoped to go on and post a challenging total.

Instead, the heavens opened in spectacular style and within minutes water was beginning to lie on the Titwood square.

As the rain continued to fall in torrents, there seemed little prospect of further play and yet another No Result looked set to go down in the record books.

However, the storm eventually subsided to be replaced by welcome sunshine and Cyril McLatchie, Clydesdale's weather-weary groundsman, went to work.

Fully three hours later, his labours bore fruit when the umpires announced that play could resume with Dale set a revised target of 95 from twenty overs.

Clearly determined to make the most of an unexpected opportunity, openers Mo Awais and Majid Haq showed the same refusal to beaten as McLatchie and they too got their reward as they coasted to victory.

Awais led the way with seven boundaries and a maximum in his unbeaten 51 while Haq, again shouldering the responsibility of captaincy, lent support with a solid 39no before finishing the match in the grand manner with a six over long-on.

Haqs effort was all the more commendable given that he had been unable to bowl due to back spasms.

His bowling colleagues had done an efficient job with wickets shared around, Mo Ali taking the key one of Ross Lyons who top-scored with 24 though the deluge denied Stuart Kampman and Fred Klaassen the opportunity to add to their unbroken sixth wicket stand of 37.

The win leaves Clydesdale with a comfortable cushion as they prepare to welcome back Scotland duo Richie Berrington and Con de Lange for the closing weeks of the campaign.

"I honestly thought we might struggle to get back on," admitted Colin Mitchell, the Clydesdale manager.

"It's a great credit to Cyril that he got the ground mopped up and fit for play and it shows the benefit of having a full-time groundsman."

The defeat sees East Kilbride plunge from second to fifth in the table while

Kelburne's hopes of putting pressure on the leaders were dashed when their clash at Drumpellier was abandoned.

However, conditions were more favourable in Paisley where Ferguslie dismissed champions Ayr for just 66 to keep their title hopes alive with an 86-run win.

Uddingston continued their recent improvement by carving out a 33-run win against West of Scotland at sunny Hamilton Crescent.

The sun also shone at Dumfries where the home side sparkled in a nine-wicket rout of bottom-of-the-table Renfrew.

In the battle for the Eastern Premiership crown, Grange skipper Andrew Brock hailed the complete performance of his side as they snuffed out the challenge of Forfarshire to take another stride towards the title.

But he also picked out young Tom Sole for special mention in the wake of an all-round display that must have attracted the attention of the Scotland selectors.

First, Sole thumped a quickfire 82 not out at Raeburn Place to propel the hosts to a lofty 288 for five.

He then shrugged off the tricky bowling conditions to bag a five-wicket haul, sending the Broughty Ferry troops slithering to 171 all out.

Brock reflected: "It was definitely one of our more complete group performances, with Tom leading the way.

All the batsmen did a good job to set up a difficult target and Soley was just brilliant in the final 10 overs.

Some of the shots he played were absolutely outstanding during that crucial period.

His work with the ball was equally impressive, especially with a wet ball to deal with.

He thoroughly deserved his five wickets – a top performance from a serious talent.

While Sole snatched the glory, Brock stressed the importance of the early strike by John Blain that accounted for his former Saltires mate Ryan Watson, who had been seeking his third century in four league outings.

The captain stated: "Blainy was delighted with that one. Ryan had been in terrific form, so it was great to get the ball rolling in that manner. In terms of winning the title, our destiny is in our own hands.

"The lads know that if we win our next four matches, we will come out on top. The equation is very simple."

Arbroath underlined their status as the chief challengers as they completed the campaign double over champions Aberdeenshire.

While most observers believe the competition is now a clear-cut two horse race, Arbroath skipper Marc Petrie reckons there is still plenty of scope for some twists and turns in the final month.

He said: "It is too early to narrow it down because Carlton can't be ruled out. They still have to face Grange and we all have other tough encounters in store. In our position, we must focus on ourselves and control the controllable, while also hoping things go our way elsewhere towards the end of August."

Yet again, it was Fraser Burnett who emerged as the man who mattered most against the Dons at Lochlands.

Burnett struck a fine 68 and figured in the decisive stand with Elton Willemse (49 not out) as Arbroath reached the target of 167 with seven wickets and a pile of overs to spare.

Petrie declared: "Fraser continued his habit of scoring runs against Aberdeenshire – and long may it continue. But a lot of credit must also go to the bowling attack because they kept it very tight and offered them nothing."

Carlton kept alive their hopes with a demolition job on Stoneywood-Dyce at Grange Loan. Tom Freshwater was the spearhead with remarkable figures of seven for eight from 10 overs as the Northerners were skittled for 74.

The home outfit required only 6.3 overs to complete the eight-wicket rout.

Falklands wavering form took another upward surge in their tense three-run success over Heriots at Goldenacre.

And RH Corstorphine remain winless following their 94-run hammering at the hands of Watsonians at Myreside.