CLACKMANNAN County first XI are on the brink of the title after getting the better of Kinloch 2 in a crucial top-of-the-table clash at the Arns.
They took to the field knowing victory would leave the Wee County just one win away from securing the Division Two title and promotion to Division One.
Clackmannan captain Blair Campbell lost the toss and Kinloch elected to bat first on a hard wicket which appeared to offer plenty of encouragement for the bowlers.
He handed the new ball to the returning duo of Rizwan Ashraf and Hakim Noori and was quickly rewarded when the latter removed the visitors' opener without troubling the scorers.
With the opening bowlers applying considerable pressure, Kinloch were soon 13 for 1 after four overs.
The pressure continued when the remaining opener pushed the ball towards Campbell and set off for a single, only to be sent back by his batting partner.
Campbell's throw found vice-captain and wicketkeeper Duncan McConchie, who removed the bails to complete the run-out of A. Khan.
Kinloch attempted to steady the innings and see off the Clackmannan opening attack, but Noori continued to cause problems with his pace and movement.
In his final over of the opening spell, he struck again with a superb yorker to leave the visitors 36 for 3 after 10 overs.
Tariq Mehboob and Ali Arshad were introduced into the attack and continued the pressure established by Ashraf and Noori.
Mehboob generated impressive turn and bounce, while Arshad found excellent swing with the ball.
The pressure soon brought further rewards, with Mehboob trapping A. Khalid LBW before Arshad had U. Sultan caught behind by McConchie.
Some resistance from N. Nan and H. Subhan brought Kinloch to 82, but another excellent piece of fielding from Clackmannan ended the partnership.
Subhan attempted a quick single before turning back, only to be left well short of his ground following a sharp throw from Sai Daddolu.
Arshad struck again shortly afterwards, trapping M. Mehar LBW to finish another impressive spell. With Kinloch now 89 for 7, Arian Gates and Campbell replaced Mehboob and Arshad and immediately made an impact.
Gates removed Kinloch captain B. Sadiq before Campbell dismissed the dangerous-looking Nan, both batsmen bowled by sharp, spinning deliveries.
Gates then claimed the final wicket, clean bowling M. Ahmadi to dismiss Kinloch for 107 in just 30.3 overs.
The Clackmannan bowling attack was led by Gates, who finished with an excellent 2 for 7, supported by Arshad with 2 for 20 and Noori with 2 for 25.
Campbell returned figures of 1 for 6 and also completed a run-out, while Mehboob took 1 for 24 and Daddolu contributed another run-out.
Following the tea interval, Clackmannan began their chase of 108, aiming for a remarkable 14th consecutive victory of the season.
Openers Mehboob and McConchie put on 15 before McConchie was bowled for 2 by a well-directed yorker from M. Gorsi.
Stewart Edwards joined Mehboob and the pair began to accelerate the score, combining a series of impressive boundary shots with sharp running between the wickets.
With the score on 40 after nine overs, Mehboob departed for 22 after striking a delivery cleanly but straight back to the bowler.
Daddolu joined Edwards at the crease, with the pair forced to weather several rain showers before attempting to reset the innings.
The rain left the outfield slow and the pitch increasingly skiddy, requiring the Clackmannan batsmen to remain patient and rotate the strike.
Daddolu was next to fall for 4, leaving a delivery outside off stump which swung sharply back to clip the top of off.
Gates joined Edwards, but the latter was dismissed in the following over for 22, adjudged LBW to leave Clackmannan 60 for 4 after 15 overs.
Abdullah Rana joined Gates and the pair provided some much-needed stability against an accurate Kinloch attack.
With boundaries difficult to come by on the slow outfield, the pair worked hard between the wickets and rotated the strike effectively, taking Clackmannan to 90 after 22 overs.
However, a miscommunication between the batsmen resulted in Gates being run out for a valuable 24, leaving 12 runs still required for victory.
Hakim Noori joined Rana and the pair remained composed as they edged Clackmannan closer to the target.
With five runs required, Rana launched a delivery high into the leg-side boundary, clearing the rope in style to seal another memorable victory for the Wee County.
Clackmannan finished on 109 for 5, with Rana unbeaten on 17 and Noori unbeaten on 1.
The victory sees the first XI maintain their remarkable unbeaten record, with 14 wins from 14 matches, one of only three teams to remain unbeaten in Scotland so far this season.
Long-standing club member George Hutchison recalls that the run is the longest winning streak in Clackmannan County Cricket Club's 158-year history.
The result also leaves them one victory away from officially securing the Division Two title and promotion to Division One.
With three matches remaining, the Wee County now knows that one more win will guarantee the championship.
The first XI return to action next Saturday when they travel to Aberfeldy to face Breadalbane at Victoria Park, with the opportunity to take another significant step towards completing a historic season.
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