Glenrothes stepped back into the past today, as they crossed the Forth - not in league cricket, but in Cricket Scotland's Mens Challenge Cup.

Penicuik were the hosts, and as undefeated co-leaders in the East of Scotland Cricket Association were expected to and proved to be formidable opponents.

The home team won the toss, choosing to bat first. A solid start by Matt Horton and Callum Steel was broken by Bimal Nalupurakkal Balan as he saw Horton edge behind to keeper Sufyan Ahmed for 16.

This brought overseas amateur Kaleb Daley to the crease, and as the leading batter in ESCA Division 1 will have been confident of pushing his team on. A mix-up with his batting partner saw him run out 12 following good fielding by Mandeep Singh Rathore - Penicuik 56 for two in the ninth over.

This energised the Glens team, with a significant improvement in their fielding skills and positioning compared to recent games.

Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals, as Mayank Sautiyal (five for 21 from five overs) gained reward for some excellent bowling, sending the stumps flying three times and trapping two other batters LBW.

With youngster Muhammed Tayyiub (two) and Ben Krzyzanowski claiming the final three wickets, Penicuik were bowled out for 109 in the 24th over.

If Penicuik had been full of confidence at the start of the game, they now knew they were in for a fight - and the uplift in on-field chat in the second innings certainly testified to that.

The Penicuik bowling and fielding display was of significantly higher quality than they had faced for a long time, and were under pressure throughout this innings.

Young Muhammed Tayyiub was first wicket to fall, as he was sent back at the non-strikers end only to be run out by a direct hit from Callum Steel just agonisingly short of his ground.

Sufyan Ahmed hit a couple of boundary fours, though a weak back-foot defensive shot showed a lack of concentration as he was bowled for 13 by Alex Wylie.

With two further wickets to fall, Glenrothes were in some trouble at 28 for four and it was on Mayank Sautiyal and Anas Tanveer to rebuild. With Tanveer eventually getting used to the extra pace of overseas player Daley, it was Sautiyal to go on the attach as he started hitting a number of boundaries.

The score had pushed on to 64 in the 17th over, the pressure was telling on the home side was telling as the chat got quieter. But this was to change as Tanveer suddenly decided to play an ugly swipe, opening the door for Penicuik again.

Two further wickets to fall as Sautiyal kept battling on, striking a couple of straight sixes over the bowlers head. The game turning Glens way again, with just 19 runs needed for the win from 17 overs.

Sautiyal though was to go one for shot too many, caught well at long off by Finn Tait off the bowling of Steve Brooks. A well made 41, but Glens now 91 for 8 and the pressure truly turned back on the batters.

Bimal Nalupurakkal Balan showed his batting tenacity however, dotting off the good bowls and then hitting the bad balls and gradually ticking off the runs. Brooks was hit for a boundary four and six in the 25th over by Balan, only for Kevin Le Roux to be bowled off the last ball.

103 for nine and last batter Mandeep Singh Rathore now at the crease. First ball of the 26th saw Balan hit a boundary four to bring Glens just three runs from victory and all in the ground full of nerves as to which way the game would go.

Bowler Tait was to dish up a rank long-hop which could have went out of the ground, but the pull-shot from Balan could only find the fielder - and with non-striker Rathore stranded mid-way down the pitch calm fielding from Richard Adams was to see him run out - and Penicuik claim the win.

A heart-breaking defeat for Glenrothes in what could have been a statement win against a team of high much higher quality and standing. But many lessons to learn from the experience and one in which they can be proud of how hard they pushed.