Stoneywood-Dyce topple Heriot's with seventh win on the bounce

Stoneywood-Dyce topple Heriot's with seventh win on the bounce

Stoneywood-Dyce continue to confound the doubters. Notwithstanding the loss of talismanic coach Jan Stander skippering Scotland A in Jersey, they notched their seventh successive league win, and blew the First Division title race wide open by disposing of faltering leaders Heriot's at wind-swept People's Park.

Overseas amateur Liam Crowley was the Dyce hero with a finely crafted 78, which saw his side safely home with seven balls and five wickets to spare, after Willie Anderson (47) and Grant Jamieson (26) had produced an excellent opening stand against a Goldenacre attack lacking the vital cutting edge of Sean Weereratna, also absent on Scotland A duty.

Earlier Heriot's, who have now lost two of their last three matches, had posted a useful 204-6, thanks again to wickekeeper-batsman Adam Lockhart-Krause (78) and an unbeaten 55 from Gavin McIntyre, with seamer Josh Stinson capturing three wickets for the home side.

Second-placed Arbroath United edged ever closer to Heriot's but not before a major scare against bottom club Penicuik at Kirkhill.

Pro Craig Williams produced the runs he has been threatening to deliver with a linchpin unbeaten 74 after Ross McLean, skipper Fraser Burnett and Greg Peal had all fallen cheaply, victims of an excellent spell of sustained seam bowling from ex-Scotland man Craig MacKellar, who finished with 3 for 14. Williams received invaluable support from Calvin Burnett (37), which took the Lichties up to 177 for 8. Penicuik struggled in reply as evergreen Benny McGill snapped up four quick wickets, but overseas amateur Richard Partington hit 78, before Arbroath squeezed home by just 12 runs.

Drumpellier moved up to third place by virtue of an easy nine-wicket victory over Stenhousemuir at The Tryst.

Left-arm spinner Ally Rawlinson and lively left-arm seamer John Hutton grabbed three wickets apiece, as Stenny were ignominiously bundled out for a meagre 53. Only pro Hamish Rutherford offered any semblance of resistance with 23, as five of his colleagues recorded ducks. In reply Greg Lewis and Zaheed Mohammed propelled Drumps to swift victory.

Another toiling team struggling to make runs are Poloc, who again collapsed lamely to their sixth successive defeat against Stirling County at New Williamfield. Only a defiant rearguard action by ex-Stirling seamer James Blackburn (19) allied to the gift of 32 extras enabled the Shawholm side to reach a dismal 99 all out.

Stirling's reply began hesitantly, with openers Gavin Anderson and skipper Phil Rees falling quickly, but an unbeaten third-wicket stand between Iain McGhee (41) and ex-Saltires all-rounder Glenn Rogers (30) saw Stirling romp home in under 30 overs. A sizeable 23.6 per cent now separates seventh-placed Poloc from Stirling in that crucial sixth slot to qualify for the revised 2011 Premier League.

Ayr's frustrations increased as they slipped from third to fifth position without even playing as their home match against Falkland fell victim to the Alloway rain.