CON de Lange claimed five wickets and scored a half-century but was unable to prevent Western Union title favourites Clydesdale from falling to their first defeat of the campaign as East Kilbride pulled off a win at Torrance House.

South African-born De Lange will play for Scotland this week against the UAE in an Intercont- inental Cup warm-up in Southampton and could earn a first full cap against Afghanistan next month.

His all-round skills were evident but the underdogs prevailed after a pulsating clash which ebbed and flowed throughout.

De Lange was Clydesdale's key bowler after East Kilbride had made a steady start, Harmanjit Singh, one of three former Titwood men in the home ranks, and Ally Dalgliesh putting on 53 for the first wicket. Indeed Dalgliesh greeted De Lange's entry into the attack by striking him for six.

However, De Lange recovered in his next over by taking a sharp return catch to dismiss Singh for a well-compiled 31.

East Kilbride's cause was not helped when Muhammad Ramzan, the former Pakistan Test batsman, was run out after a short-lived stay at the crease on his debut for the club. Another run out accounted for Craig Smith while De Lange continued to trouble all the home batsmen including Moneeb Iqbal who was caught by Haroon Sher before the Scotland recruit trapped Dalgliesh lbw. The opener had made 43 from 88 deliveries with two fours and two sixes.

De Lange picked up his fourth victim when Fred Klaassen holed out and suddenly East Kilbride had slumped to 99-6. However, the home side showed commendable resilience as former Saltires star Ross Lyons, another Clydesdale old boy, led the recovery with a hard-hitting half-century.

Lyons finished unbeaten on 55, having faced 11 balls fewer, and helped himself to five beautifully- timed sixes as East Kilbride recovered to post 189-7 but De Lange's 5-33 kept the game evenly poised.

It moved back in the hosts' favour when Dale slumped to 16-3 before De Lange and Richie Berrington both recorded half-cent-uries as the initiative again swung to the visitors.

Home skipper Josh Johnston was to be the hero, though, as he removed both batsmen on his way to 4-27, while Klaassen claimed 5-43 as East Kilbride completed a memorable 32-run win.

John Blain recently stated his desire to represent his country after an international exile of six years and the Grange player-coach did his cause no harm with a brilliant five-wicket haul that helped rout Forfarshire for just 61.

Blain's victims included former Scotland captain Ryan Watson whose 'Shire comeback after three seasons with Glenrothes was cut short by an lbw verdict. His nine-over spell included five maidens and cost just 14 runs.

Skipper Andrew Brock weighed-in with 4-8 before in-form George Munsey thumped 40no as his side raced to the target in just 10 overs for the loss of one wicket to maintain a 100% start to their CS Eastern Premier campaign.

Elsewhere, Carlton also have a perfect record after a comfortable nine-wicket win at Stoneywood-Dyce where Rory McCann hit an unbeaten 86 after Gordon Drummond's four wickets had restricted the Aberdonians to 153-8.

However, champions Aberdeenshire lost for the first time when Fraser Burnett's brilliant 121 helped Arbroath secure a fine seven-wicket win at Mannofield.

Falkland produced a spirited fightback to earn a 20-run win over Heriot's at Scroggie Park. The Fifers were all out for 122 but a superb display in the field earned the spoils.

Ewan Chalmers hit an unbeaten 74 as Watsonians secured their first win of the season to leave Corstorphine bottom of the table.