Holders Carlton avoided a Scottish Cup banana skin to edge through to the second round of the Citylets Scottish Cup after a tense 7-run win over Drumpellier at Langloan.
The capital side went into the clash wary of opponents who had beaten Grange at the same venue in last season’s competition.
And another upset looked possible as, needing 161 for victory, the Coatbridge team reached 94-2 with Henry Dall going well.
However, when the young Aussie was eighth out for a composed 61, Drumps still needed 20 and, despite a valiant effort from the tail, they fell just short.
Earlier Ali Shah held the Carlton innings together with a half-century while Will Leslie claimed 6-35 for the hosts.
Elsewhere Grange flexed their considerable muscles to claim their place in round two with an emphatic seven-wicket win over Ayr at Cambusdoon.
Chasing 221, former Saltires star Ryan Flannigan anchored the innings while Gordon Goudie (43), Nick Farrar (31) and Preston Mommsen (38no) played more expansively.
However, Flannigan steered the capital troops home with a patient 89no.
Earlier Anwar Hafeez had played a similar role for Ayr, carrying his bat for a fine unbeaten 95 but Andrew Brock’s 4-35 ensured there were no other substantial contributions for the hosts.
Heriot’s had the easiest of ten-wicket wins over Irvine at Goldenacre though it might have been different if the Western First Division side, having started well, had not contrived to lose nine wickets for 23 runs to be all out for 128.
James Hearn’s unbeaten 82 and 40no from Johann Potgieter carried Heriot’s home in just 26.2 overs.
Last year’s beaten finalists Watsonians fell at the first hurdle as Eastern Premier rivals Forfarshire prevailed at Myreside.
Former Scotland batsman Ewan Chalmers was in prime form, hitting 94 of his team’s 203-8 before the visitors recovered from two early losses to win by four wickets, thanks mainly to half-centuries from Scotland pair Craig Wallace and Michael Leask.
A controlled unbeaten 77 from Riyaad Henry helped Ferguslie beat Stewarts Melville by four wickets at Meikleriggs while there was further Western Premier success when Clydesdale prevailed in a 26-over encounter with Aberdeenshire at Mannofield where Zeeshan Bashir (35) and Richie Berrington (3-5) were the key performers.
Imran Mughal hit 44 as First Division East Kilbride chased 122 to beat Poloc of the Premier by three wickets at Shawholm, Stewart Kampman and Moneeb Iqbal having earlier claimed three wickets each.
Adil Raza and Gavin Bradley each hit half-centuries and Amir Gul claimed 5-12 as Uddingston overpowered Freuchie by 118 runs at Bothwell Castle.
Kelburne’s Zimbabwean professional Cephas Zhuwao hit 64no from just 30 balls as Kelburne raced to a ten-ciket win at Dunnikier.
Several games fell victim to the effects of the weather and will be played next Sunday (May20).
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