Khalid leads way as East Kilbride lay down marker at Corstorphine

East Kilbride president Brian Kampman was in ebullient mood after his club marked their SNCL debut with a comprehensive six-wicket win over Corstorphine at East Barnton Avenue.

The new domestic format has its critics but the former Western Union outfit proved they deserve their place among the elite.

"We will try to keep the old guard on their guard," said Kampman while setting his sights on a possible title challenge. "It has been a long wait for our club to get where we are because the last time we won the Union a decade ago there was no promotion to the National League. Since then we have had our problems with players leaving but we are happy to be where we are now."

It has been a case of players returning and one notable arrival in the build-up to the new season. Harmanjit Singh and Craig Smith have both made the move back from Premiership Clydesdale while eyes were raised when East Kilbride pulled off the significant coup of attracting the Scotland left-arm spinner, Ross Lyons.

Harmanjit and Lyons played their part with 60 and 39no respectively as the visitors overhauled Corstorphine's 209-9 with more than nine overs to spare.

However, it was Sheeraz Khalid, last year's leading run-scorer in the Western Union, who spearheaded the chase with a well crafted 68no, including nine boundaries and two sixes.

Earlier Jason Biddulph stroked 71 as the Edinburgh club struggled, particularly against Umair Saeed's seamers which brought 3-35. Kampman added: "We won't get ahead of ourselves but if we keep all our players available and play to form there is no reason why we should not vie for the title."

Elsewhere, there was no happy return to the SNCL for East League winners Edinburgh Accies who fell five runs short against Renfrew at King Geroge V Playing Fields.

In good batting conditions, Accies were content to restrict their hosts to 246-5, especially as Ahmad Said, the home professional, looked in prime form until falling four runs short of a century.

The Accies effort, though, was an exercise in frustration with three of their batsmen reaching 40 but none going on to play the major innings that was required.

Kashif Pervez, signed from Edinburgh CC following their expulsion from the National League, was the pick of the Renfrew bowlers with 4-48.

Poloc were the day's big scorers amassing 283-6 in a comfortable 40-run success against Penicuik at Shawholm.

Dani Chaudry and Dan Walton scored 66no and 68 respectively with the latter's effort featuring eight boundaries and two sixes, while South African Carl Huyser hit 42 and new signing Hassan Akram 34.Poloc were given a bit of a fright as Penicuik raced out of the blocks but wickets fell at regular intervals before former Weirs leg-spinner Akram produced a miserly ten-over spell that yielded 1-28 and put the Glasgow team firmly in control.

There were mixed fortunes for the Championship's Fife duo with Falkland achieving a notable 13-run success over Dumfries at Scroggie Park thanks in large measure to Harsha Cooray's 85.

However, down the road at Public Park, Freuchie found themselves on the receiving end of a peerless unbeaten century from Kruger van Wyk.

The New Zealand-based South African completely dominated West Lothian's innings with 156 of their 267-5 before spirited Freuchie were dismissed 23 runs short.

SMRH had a creditable opening-day success by two wickets against Ferguslie at Meikleriggs while Irfan Shah and Mark Gilchrist shared six wickets in Weirs' 21-run win over Kelburne at Whitehaugh.