Glenrothes 1st XI travelled North up the A92 to Lochlands, Arbroath on Saturday for their latest fixture in the SPCU Division 1.

A green-topped surface awaited with no real gremlins in the pitch expected, so Glens skipper Qasim Ahmad will not have been too disappointed to have been asked to bat first.

The surface may not have caused much concern, but the prodigious in-swing by young opening bowler Luke Hayes (three for 31) coupled with some indifferent shots by the Glenrothes top order had them in all sorts of problems at 56 for 5 in the 14th over.

This brought together Mayank Sautiyal and Ben Krzyzanowski, with both looking to bat sensibly and rebuild the innings. This they did with great endeavour, Sautiyal playing the more aggressive shots whilst Krzyzanowski slowly accumulated and rotated the strike.

With Sautiyal nearing a well deserved century, he was to lose focus against wily Pete Clarke as he tempted him for the big hit only to see Sautiyal caught well on the boundary for 96.

It was the end of a 135 run partnership, and one which put Glenrothes firmly back on the front foot - with 10 overs running and 191 runs on the board.

Young Krzyzanowski upped his aggression and hit a couple of nice boundary shots to bring up his first half century in senior cricket but with tiredness creeping in was bowled for 57. Glenrothes were to fall short of using their full 45 overs, bowled out for 234.

It was to be a game of three parts, as the Arbroath off-field support raised their game to put on a five star teas and hoping to make the Glenrothes fielders heavy footed in the second innings.

But it was to be the Arbroath openers to be caught heavy footed, as the gentlemanly veteran David Bridges was run out by the composed Karthik Coppisetty following a mix up with his fellow opener Angus Fraser.

Young Fraser was to show his great potential with a good innings from there, but having reached double digits he was second wicket to fall as Govind Singh took a smart catch at point off the bowling of Qasim Ahmad.

The Arbroath middle-order batters were all to make a number of positive starts, keeping the run rate up and finding gaps in the cover area with ease.

But Muhammad Osama, first thanks to a good catch by Krzyzanowski at mid-on and then bowling home-skipper Stuart Gibson swung things back Glenrothes' way.

Clarke and Chris Robb though had other ideas and batted with great composure to wrestle the match back Arbroath's way. Mayank Sautiyal was to make the breakthrough though as Clarke was bowled with the score on 110.

This brought young McKinley Hogg to the crease, a player of immense promise who can take apart many bowling attacks. He was though to retire hurt without facing, after twisting his knee from an aborted run - we wish McKinley a quick recovery.

With Luke Hayes then caught by Singh, now behind the stumps, off the bowling of Sufyan Ahmed, Arbroath were effectively seven down with 116 runs on the board.

They did though continue to show the Arbroath grit which many teams have seen over the years, with great credit to Robb and young Alex Lynch to make it feel like they had the game under control.

Their near 50 run partnership though was broken by Osama, Robb caught by Sufyan Ahmed for a well made 42.

With Sohail Ahmed bowled first ball, it was all eyes on Osama as he ran in on his hat-trick ball - last batter Asif Ahmadzai was to get trapped LBW plumb in the front and the finger raised by the umpire to put Glenrothes in to celebratory mode. Osama claiming five for 26 in his eight overs.

An excellent win under adversity, with individual performances from Sautiyal, Krzyzanowski and Osama dragging their team to victory.