STONEYWOOD-DYCE provided the shock of the quarter-finals with an emphatic win over Ferguslie at People’s Park.
The Granite City side started underdogs against the Western Premier champions but built on Saturday’s impressive league win at Watsonians to cap a miserable weekend for the Paisley men who had lost to Uddingston 24 hours earlier.
Ferguslie’s decision to bat first in damp conditions quickly back-fired as their rain-interrupted innings never go off the ground.
They lost Dave Stafford in the first over and he was soon followed by Zimbabwean professional Nkosana Mpofu who was run out.
A brief break for rain did little to change the visitors’ fortunes as skipper Riyaad Henry was out to the first ball after the stoppage before Taimoor Ahmad’s departure saw them teetering on 23-4.
And there was little respite for Ferguslie whose plight would have been worse still but for a battling 26 from Anup Vajendla whose effort took them to 85 all out.
Former Scotland all-rounder Jan Stander was the pick of the home bowlers with remarkable figures of 3-1 while Liam Lindsay took 2-19 before striking 42 to put the issue beyond doubt.
Stoneywood-Dyce’s hopes of an all-Granite City semi-final were dashed when local rivals Aberdeenshire came a cropper at in-form Carlton.
Conquerors of holders Grange in the previous round, the capital side piled on the runs to reach 315-6 at Grange Loan.
Rory McCann led the way with a sparkling century, the top order batsman making 119 at almost a run-a-ball to set up a late onslaught from South African Corne Dry whose unbeaten 78 came from only 39 deliveries and featured six maximums.
In reply, the Dons were never in contention as clinical Carlton took wickets at regular intervals to dismiss their rivals for just 97, Scotland’s Ali Evans the most effective bowler with 3-21.
Heriot’s and Arbroath complete an all-Eastern Premier semi-final line-up after making home advantage count to beat West of Scotland and Stirling respectively.
West, though, will feel they let a chance slip when, chasing 234 at Goldenacre, they had reached 179-2. However, the departure of South African international Rory Kleinveldt for 41 proved a turning point.
When David Braithwaite, who made a composed 83, followed soon after the writing was on the wall and the home bowlers ruthlessly seized their chance to force a 15-run win.
Meanwhile, Arbroath’s Will Lubbe scored his second century of the weekend, a brilliant 106, while Craig Cameron added a rapid 79no in a total of 299-6 before Lubbe also starred with the ball, claiming four wickets to secure a 93-run win as 78 from Stirling youngster Jasper Davidson proved in vain.
