Linlithgow picked up a crucial victory in their bid to avoid relegation from the East of Scotland Championship as they eased to a 73-run win over Penicuik.
Having been put into bat, Linlithgow scored 243-8 from their 50 overs with the bulk of the runs shared between Andrew Graham (62 not out), who scored his maiden First XI half-century, and Craig Black who was caught on the boundary for 49.
In reply, Penicuik were always behind the run rate and an early flow of wickets saw them fall to 59-4 before eventually being dismissed for 170.
Gregor Thomson was in fine form, taking five wickets for the loss of just 21 runs as Linlithgow provided themselves some breathing space above the relegation zone with two games remaining in the season.
On Saturday, the travel to fourth-placed Edinburgh CC.
Meanwhile, it was a comfortable win for Linlithgow Second XI in a Division Four fixture against Holy Cross, sealing the victory with six wickets to spare.
Bruce Kilpatrick was the pick of the bowlers with 4-20 as Holy Cross made just 166 all out from 39 overs.
Linlithgow cruised to the win with Donald Bennie top-scoring with an unbeaten 45. Just like the club’s top team, it was a victory that ensured their status is in their own hands as they enter the final two games.
This weekend, they host basement boys Edinburgh CC Third XI.
It was an impressive week, too, for Livingston as their First and Second XIs picked up victories, although the Third XI suffered a heavy defeat.
Skipper Ahmed Ali has so often been the difference with the bat for Livi’s top team but he was able to do it with the ball as well in their 88-run Division One win over Musselburgh.
He top-scored with 54 before taking a hat-trick with the ball.
Livi scored 137 all out with Ali leading the charge with a couple of huge sixes. Defending their low total, the bowlers showed intent from the first delivery, which caught a huge edge to slip.
Opening pair Asad Amir and Adnan Ali ripped through the top of the batting line-up, picking up five wickets between them in 12 overs.
Then came the captain. A stunning spell of four wickets for five runs from 5.4 overs was highlighted with the final three wickets of the innings coming in consecutive deliveries as Musselburgh were bowled for 49.
That was their final home game of the season as they visit Murrayfield DAFS on Saturday before a trip to Clackmannan in the season finale the following week.
The club’s Second XI were in brilliant form, also, winning their Division Five- match with Musselburgh Second XI in a thrilling encounter that went right down to the wire. Chasing 164, Livi got there with just four balls to spare.
The wickets were spread about as the away side held Musselburgh to 163-8 with Kamlesh Marshiya, Sadhil Jindal, and Khuram Walayat all taking two wickets.
In reply, a solid middle-order showing saw Livi go from 18-2 to 159-4 before making things slightly tricky in the final overs as wickets fell and runs proved harder to come by.
Hamid Ahmed scored 56 while he was ably assisted by Zaki Choudry (32) before Jindal scored the winning runs in the final over to seal a three-wicket victory.
They host Murrayfield DAFS Third XI on Saturday.
Livi’s Third XI were handily beaten in their Division Seven clash against Tranent and Preston Village Third XI, losing by 118 runs.
The home side batted first and scored 204-9 with Suresh Balasubramanian the pick of the Livi bowlers with 4-32.
The batters, though, were unable to offer any sort of hope in the chase as they were skittled out for 86.
They welcome Stewart’s Melville Fourth XI to West Lothian on Sunday.
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