Cricket - Division 1 - Challengers now down to two after Stoneywood-Dyce lose unbeaten run

They finally faltered. Stoneywood-Dyce, unbeaten in 11 games since 22 May, stumbled at the penultimate hurdle, losing at home to Drumpellier and leaving front-runners Heriot's and Arbroath United to battle it out for the title on next week's final day.

The People's Park side made a bright start, quickly removing Greg Lewis, Michael Anderson and Asif Mohammed, but a brilliant partnership between Coatbridge pro Khatib Shahabuddin, who finished unbeaten on exactly 100, and Graeme McLaren (60) propelled the Langloan men to a highly competitive 212 for 5.

In reply Stoneywood, too, lost three quick wickets - William Anderson, Grant Jamieson, and Les Wattie all departing early - but a belligerent partnership between Jan Stander (80) and Ed Willemse (37) put them back on track, before an unlikely Drumpellier hero emerged in ex-Cumbernauld seamer Liam Bonner, who removed them both along with Scott Redhead to return a fine 3 for 33. Shahabuddin also weighed in with five wickets, four bowled, as the Aberdeen men subsided 47 runs short.

Arbroath United moved up into second slot, but they will still consider it an opportunity lost as they could only tie with mercurial Stirling County at New Williamfield.

A characteristically dogged 61 from pro Craig Williams, assisted by an enterprising undefeated 40 from Calvin Burnett, saw the Lichties to a moderate 172 all out.

County, led by Iain McGhee's unbeaten 70, seemed on course for a morale-boosting win prior to their pending Scottish Cup Final, but they failed to stagger across the line as the overs ran out with the scores tied and four wickets still in the bank.

Heriot's as expected maintained their hold on top slot, winning comfortably at Penicuik. Kirkhill captain Keith Morton continued his good run opening the batting, but his 41 alone was insufficient to post a challenging total. In reply to a meagre 111, 46 from Goldenacre skipper Steve Knox and an unbeaten 47 from Matthew Thomas, whose earlier 3 for 18 had taken him to 40 league wickets for the season, saw the leaders cruise home with nine wickets in hand.

Overseas amateur Carl Huyser was the Poloc hero as the Shawholm men surprisingly pipped Ayr.

Huyser's 94, taking him to 703 runs for the season, was the mainstay of the Poloc innings as, assisted by a 50 from pro Fraser Quarterman, the home side racked up an imposing 254 for 5, before Huyser removed Alloway dangerman Michael Papps, caught for 42 pulling to mid-wicket. Another 32 from Dougie Johnstone, and some later-order hitting from Mark Renny (42) and young Matthew McClymont (28 not out) maintained hope, but when the clock ran down Ayr were still 24 runs light.

Elsewhere Falkland recorded their third league win, comfortably disposing of bottom club Stenhousemuir at The Tryst. Scroggie Park pro Harsha Cooray's finely crafted 86 was the lynchpin of the Fifers' challenging 186 for 5, before seamer Ryan Hepburn bagged five wickets for 35, including the prized scalp of home pro Hamish Rutherford, lbw for 20 as Stenny, despite a brief flurry from veteran Graeme Gardner (28), capitulated to 116 all out to lose by 64 runs.