DUNFERMLINE and Carnegie Cricket Club's first XI saw their bid to bounce back from their opening day loss thwarted by the weather at the weekend.

The McKane Park team, who have aspirations of challenging for promotion from Division Two of the East of Scotland Cricket Association (ESCA) leagues, were beaten by Edinburgh second XI in their first match of the season.

They had been scheduled to cross the Forth and head for the capital to face Murrayfield DAFS second XI on Saturday, but heavy overnight rain in the west of Edinburgh left the Roseburn ground unplayable, and the match was cancelled.

In Division Five, Dunfermline and Carnegie's second XI, who also have ambitions of challenging for promotion, welcomed Stewart's Melville third XI to McKane.

Looking to bounce back from their loss away to Livingston second XI in their first match, the hosts were first into bat and did so pretty fluently throughout their innings.

With Sohael Ali scoring with a variety of shots, and some hard hitting by Usman Saleem, who put together a well-made 64, and Manbir Singh, they set their opponents a target of 188.

Stewart's Melville began their reply in solid fashion but, when they lost a couple of wickets, they began to struggle and ended up 52 runs short, with Singh, Kasun Piyumal and Nishi Nithiyannathan doing the Dunfermline and Carnegie bowlers doing the most damage.

Dunfermline and Carnegie second XI (20) 188 for 6, U Saleem 64 not out, S Ali 28, T Clarke 3 for 20.

Stewart’s Melville third XI (6) 137, M Spiers 31, S Farooq 25, M Singh 3 for 21, K Piyumal 3 for 20, N Nithiyannathan 2 for 9.

Dunfermline and Carnegie's third XI got their Division Eight campaign underway, following the postponement of their scheduled opener with Tranent and Preston Village fifth XI the previous week, at Livingston fourth XI - and came so close to victory.

Good work in the field saw Dunfermline and Carnegie take regular early wickets, which included young bowlers Finlay Lovell and Arav Dejesh collecting seven for victory.

They were left chasing 145 for victory and, although they accrued runs in a steady fashion, including a fine, unbeaten innings of 58 by Ralph Laing, they finished just seven short.

Livingston fourth XI (20) 145, A Jindal 46, F Rehman 25, A Dejesh 4 for 13, F Lovell 3 for 34.

Dunfermline and Carnegie third XI (9) 138, R Laing 58 not out, F Lovell 20, D Lang 3 for 28, M Faran 2 for 11, A Binan 2 for 20.

This weekend, Dunfermline and Carnegie's first XI are at home to Kirk Brae in Division Two, the second XI travel to Gala second XI in Division Five, and the third XI are at Leith FAB fourth XI, with all matches starting at 1pm.

Meanwhile, in the Strathmore and Perthshire Cricket Union Division Two, Broomhall were in action against Kinloch third XI at The Cairns.

With their scheduled opener at Strathmore second XI having been conceded the week prior, they were hoping for victory and their opponents were first into the crease.

They batted fluently throughout their innings, despite good bowling by Ieuan Ward, who took five wickets, on their way to setting a target of 194.

Broomhall found that difficult to match, despite a fine knock of 63 by Ward, as they finished 54 runs short.

On Saturday, they go to Falkland third XI, for a midday start.

Kinloch third XI (20) 194, M Saghir 62, M Mungi 45, J Matthew 31, I Ward 5 for 11.

Broomhall (9) 140 for 7, I Ward 63, N Ramsay 21, M Siddiqui 3 for 28, R Bowman 2 for 21.