CLACKMANNAN County Cricket Club firsts clinched the title in sensational style at the Arms with teenage batsman Graham Oliver hitting his second century of the season.

The first eleven played like champions throughout this title winning encounter as they swept aside Fife team Townhill, bowling the visitors out for a paltry 18 runs.

Clackmannan batted first and despite the loss of an early wicket, Dan Smith for seven, fellow opener Graham Oliver and Captain Craig Black took the score well over the 100 mark before skipper Black was caught for a forceful 93 runs.

After the quick dismissal of James Couper, Keith Hefer joined Oliver and they began to accumulate runs despite the slow nature of the outfield.

The crowd were then on their feet to applaud the 175 run mark, which gave the team the required number of points to ensure they would be top of the league table, no matter what the result of this one.

Hefer was eventually removed for a sparkling 34 and was replaced by Gordon Oliver. The applause returned, though, in enthusiastic fashion when, for the second time this season, 17-year-old Oliver scored a century.

His dad was content to play second fiddle to Graham, as the youngster began to strike the ball to all parts.

Unfortunately his innings was finally curtailed by the weather, which forced a declaration in the 46th over with Clackmannan on 282 for four.

Gordon Oliver finished not out on five, while Graham created the highest score of his career so far with 121 not out, an innings off which he can be extremely proud.

Clackmannan opened the bowling after the rain break with Rizwan Ashraf and Matthew Booth and the opening pair soon made inroads into the Townhill batting.

By the time Booth was replaced by Hefer the Townhill top order were in disarray with four wickets having gone and the score not in double figures.

An excellent run out, a well worked wicket for Booth and two wickets in two balls for Ashraf, doing the damage.

Townhill's woe begotten time did not stop there, as Hefer made full use of the game situation to finish the game with four wickets for five runs. Townhill all out for 18, confirming in some style that Clackmannan would be promoted to Division Three as champions.

It was also a personal triumph for Craig Black, as he confirmed his place at the top of the ESCA division batting statistics with a season's total of 785 runs. A fitting climax to an excellent season for Clackmannan's young captain. Rizwan Ashraf topped the division bowling statistics with 35 wickets, a well deserved award for a quiet, unassuming, exceptionally talented cricketer.

IT WAS a double for Clackmannan County CC at the weekend when the seconds followed the firsts by securing their respective league title, without a ball being bowled.

The seconds won the Division 7 Championship and were promoted for the second consecutive season after producing a scintillating season of cricket.

Their victories throughout the season assured them of top place in the division, despite the weekend's game against Fauldhouse being cancelled because of the weather.

Meanwhile, the third elevens game on Sunday was less conclusive. The Clackmannan side scored 109 all out, with Noor Jhangir(19) and Captain Tippu Sultan(19) top scoring. Kirriemuirs reply was curtailed, as the increasingly heavy rain made conditions too dangerous to continue. The game abandoned, with no points added to the Clackmannan sides push for promotion. This Sunday, the thirds travel to Glendelvine for what looks like being the final game of the season.