A PLAYER of the match performance from Yaser Arfat ensured Dunfermline and Carnegie returned to winning ways in East of Scotland Cricket Association Division Two against Carlton third XI at McKane Park on Saturday.

The club's first XI, who lost out at Westquarter and Redding the previous Saturday, but then defeated Forres St Lawrence the following day to progress in the Scottish Cup, earned their third league success of the season.

Arfat hit an unbeaten half century after the home side won the toss and elected to bat, and then took three wickets as the bottom of the table visitors battled to stay in the game after Dunfermline and Carnegie posted a total of 217.

With skipper George Olney unavailable, Vasu Reddy took on the captaincy for the first XI and scored 49 runs, while there were other useful contributions from Alfie Hearnshaw and Raja Khurram.

Carlton lost early wickets to Arfat and player/coach, Steve Rowley, and then when Manbir Singh struck, and at 122 for 7, they were in serious trouble.

Although they went on to reach a respectable total, Carlton still fell 53 runs short.

The win has taken Dunfermline and Carnegie on to a healthy 62 per cent record in the table, but they are still in the bottom three ahead of their trip to RH Corstorphine this Saturday, whilst, the following day, they will host Helensburgh in the Scottish Cup.

Reddy said: "We put together a good total and bowled and fielded tidily, but we need to maintain that form this weekend when we go to RH Corstorphine, while on Sunday we have an equally important game when we entertain Helensburgh in the Scottish Cup."

Dunfermline and Carnegie (20) 217 for 5, Y Arfat 50 not out, V Reddy 49, A Hearnshaw 40, R Khurram 27.

Carlton third XI (8) 164, B Thurram 34, E Keating 33, Y Arfat 3 for 29, M Singh 3 for 32, S Rowley 2 for 27.

Dunfermline and Carnegie's second XI, however, paid for a poor batting performance in their top of Division Six clash at Galashiels on Saturday.

A meagre total of 109 was never going to be enough and Gala confidently got past the target to secure an eight-wicket win, handing the West Fifers their second loss of the season.

Dunfermline and Carnegie second XI (3) 109, J Spreng 35, S Lomeau 2 for 7, R Paterson 2 for 17, J Bell 2 for 20.

Gala second XI (20) 110 for 2, M Hastings 56, J Bell 33 not out.

In Division Eight, Dunfermline and Carnegie's third XI after still seeking their first win of the campaign but produced a spirited performance against Murrayfield DAFS fifth XI at The Cairns.

They fielded and bowled well until late in the Murrayfield innings when Hashim Khan, with 65, got away from them.

Dunfermline and Carnegie made their highest total so far this season, of 129, but their opponents were winners by 101 runs.

Murrayfield DAFS (20) 230 for 6m H Khan 65, A Velegapudi 39, F Lovell 2 for 33.

Dunfermline and Carnegie 3rd XI (6) 129, S Mujeeb 34, M Spiers 25, C Bond 20.