Scott Galloway hails opening stand as Freuchie ease home

The experienced pair of Scotty Birrell and Scotty Gourlay turned the tide with a superb partnership to guide them past the 160-target with seven wickets and more than five overs to spare.

Galloway, who weighed in with four cheap scalps, said: "We are thrilled with this result – and in particular the manner in which it was achieved. It was a real all-round performance with everyone playing his part, though I have to pick out Scotty Birrell for special mention.

"Not only did he bat extremely effectively, he snapped up three very important wickets at crucial times."

Experience triumphed over rawness at Meikleriggs where Ferguslie got the better of newly promoted Kelburne in the first ever SNCL Paisley derby.

Pro Prav Mullick (85) and veteran all-rounder Stuart Kennedy (32) were the mainstays of the home side's 242-8. Predictably, David Harper spearheaded the chase against his old side, but when he was dismissed for 59, the outcome was never really in doubt.

The Dumfries bandwagon rolled on with a five-wicket victory over Imans Edinburgh at Academy Park.

Scott Beveridge emerged as the destroyer-in-chief with both bat and ball. He snapped up three inexpensive scalps as the hosts slid to 161-9 – then struck 45 as the Nunholm brigade rushed to the target with 15 overs to spare.

Stuart Corbett-Byers was also in great nick, finishing on 34 not out.

West Lothian's strong run hit came to an abrupt halt at Inverleith where they suffered a shock eight-wicket trouncing at the hands of SMRH.

They were bundled out for just 130 – leaving the stage clear for the home men to stroll to glory.

And Renfrew outgunned Weirs in the south Glasgow derby at King George V Playing Fields.

Watsonians' second string batted themselves into the record books with a crushing win over Glenrothes at the weekend.

The Myreside men piled up a mammoth 383-3 – the highest score in the club's history – before winning the East League First Division encounter by 223 runs at Riverside Park.

George Cairns, dropped from the first XI the previous week, gave the perfect response with a career-best 161no, while Australian big-hitter Richard Crosby made 159.

The pair added 280 for the third wicket before Glenrothes were dismissed for just 160.

Watsonians club captain Steve Paige said: "A stand of 280 is a fantastic effort at any level of cricket so the guys deserve enormous praise.

"The statisticians have told us that 383 is also the highest total we've ever had at any level in the club.

"George dropped down from the first team last week but at this rate he'll be hard to leave out."

The outcome was even tougher on Glenrothes because they had won the toss and sent their rivals in to bat.