ABERDEENSHIRE defeated Grange in an extraordinary CS Eastern Premier Division match at Mannofield yesterday.
A week earlier the Dons dropped from top of the table to seventh after losing to local rivals Stoneywood-Dyce at the same venue.
That saw the Edinburgh side move above them, but Aberdeenshire regained the advantage by beating Grange by two wickets, although not before surviving a huge scare. Chasing just 117 for victory, the hosts had 34 runs on the board after just four overs.
However, they lost their way in spectacular style as Raj Routray found his line and length to pick up five cheap wickets, including that of Chris Venske who had looked capable of winning the match single-handedly with a hard-hitting 39.
Aberdeenshire suddenly plunged to 87-7, but the unheralded Indika Yahathugoda hit a vital 17 with a four and a six before his departure left Fraser Proud and skipper Tyler Buchan to scramble the remaining runs required.
It had looked as if Grange might suffer complete humiliation when, having been sent in to bat, they tumbled to 11-7. Buchan clean bowled Arun Pillai with the first delivery of the match and soon had five wickets to his name, with only two runs conceded.
With Hayes van der Berg backing up his captain at the other end to claim two wickets, Grange looked in danger of entering the record books, with the all-time low team total in the National League era of 27 a long way off.
However, Neil McCallum and Simon Smith showed their experience to stave off further immediate damage, adding just 21 runs but staying together for 14 overs. McCallum eventually departed for a fighting 24 while Smith added a further 22 with Gregor Maiden. At 54-9 the Edinburgh side needed further resistance to make a game of it and it was provided in a last-wicket stand between Smith and Routray which yielded 62 runs.
Routray's contribution was a modest 12 but he survived for 60 deliveries, long enough for Smith to complete a superb unbeaten half-century off a marathon 110 balls.
Champions Arbroath were given a run for their money before prevailing by 19 runs against Watsonians at Myreside. Arbroath now hold top spot on their own after Falkland fell five places after 34-run defeat to Forfarshire.
A brilliant unbeaten 134 by former Saltires batsman Fraser Watts was the highlight of Carlton's 12-run Edinburgh derby defeat of Heriot's.
In the Western Union CS Premier Division, Drumpellier were routed for just 36 at Langloan by East Kilbride. Defending a modest 145, the visitors got the start they wanted when they dismissed the first three Drumpellier batsmen for ducks.
It failed to get any better for the Coatbridge side, with four more batsmen failing to score and only two reaching double figures while pace bowler Syed Shah made merry with figures of 7-17.
East Kilbride had also lost their opening pair for ducks but Moneeb Iqbal and Stewart Kampman launched a spirited recovery with a half-century stand. South African Peter Bocock continued the good work and Umair Saeed top-scored with 41 as the Torrance House men closed on 145-9.
Uddingston had Scott McKenzie to thank for a 39-run win over Dumfries, the medium- pacer taking 5-43 as the champions successfully defended 149 at Bothwell Castle.
Ayr maintained their unbeaten record with victory over West of Scotland at Cambusdoon.
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