Champions Heriot’s flexed their considerable muscles on the opening day of the Eastern Premier season to secure a commanding 184-run win over Meigle at Victory Park. Opting to bat first, the Edinburgh side survived a mid-innings collapse that saw them descend from 122-1 to 158-9, only to recover and reach an imposing 262 before they were all out in the final over.

Lloyd Brown and Josh Elliott had the visitors in control with a second-wicket stand of 84, skipper Brown stroking a controlled 52 with five boundaries and a six while Elliott added 43. However, home captain Raju Gayashan and the veteran Iain Stewart proceeded to turn the match on its head with 5-43 and 3-35 respectively.

One more quick wicket would have raised genuine hopes of an opening day upset, instead of which Heriot’s displayed both their batting depth and winning mentality when Niall Alexander and Elliot Ruthven launched a defiant rescue mission. The latter belied his No 11 berth by top-scoring with a run-a-ball 68 featuring three mighty maximums before he was last man out to leave Alexander on 32no.

Scotland pacemen Adrian Neill (3-30) and Gavin Main (1-17) spearheaded the visitors’ attack impressively to reduce Meigle to 39-4, a position from which they never recovered, Alexander, Ruthven and James Dickinson each taking two wickets as the end came in the 24th over with a meagre total of 78 on the board. 

Grange, last year’s runners-up, looked as if they might finish off Stewart’s Melville in double-quick time at Portgower Place. Having won the toss and elected to bowl, the home side’s seam duo of Robbie McGlasham and Will Hodgins ripped through the StewMel top order, reducing them to tatters on 26-8.

The former led the way with 4-14, frequently beating the outside edge, while Hodgins picked-up the key wicket of South African Shaylen Pillay. While home supporters sat back in anticipation of a complete capitulation, Connor Shorten and Joe Newman embarked on a partnership which at once served to frustrate Grange and stave-off embarrassment in the visiting ranks. 

The pair added 105 for the ninth wicket before Shorten fell to a catch by Charleston Davidson off Louis Bennet. His dogged 81-ball 45 included five boundaries while Newman went on to finish unbeaten on 52 with seven boundaries as StewMel were eventually dismissed for 140 in the 41st over.

With momentum in their favour, the visitors proceeded to pick up three early wickets before Charlie Peet and Matthew Angelini guided Grange to victory without further loss. Angelini top-scored with an enterprising 57 not out from only 40 deliveries, enjoying a bit of late fortune when he was caught off a Harry Armstrong no-ball, while Peet had the distinction of scoring the only maximum of the match from the ensuing free-hit on his way to 47no.

Elsewhere, there was derby delight for Arbroath who secured an 80-run derby win over Forfarshire at Lochlands. The Lichties have played second fiddle to their local rivals in recent times but on Saturday they asserted themselves from the off to dominate much of the match.

Arbroath first posted 231-8, new skipper Iain Worth leading the way with a composed 70, before dismissing ‘Shire for 151. Paceman Cameron Brown made an early breakthrough to set the tone before Shouvik Chakraborthy took the bowling honours with 3-30.

Edinburgh South marked their top-flight bow with a dramatic 1-run success against RH Corstorphine at Inch Park while Carlton were comfortable 69-run victors over Falkland at Grange Loan.

Western Premiership champions Clydesdale routed Prestwick for just 38 in 16.4 overs at Titwood to pave the way for a nine-wicket success.