THE Eastern Premier title race is also poised for a thrilling finale after second top Grange sent leaders Arbroath tumbling to a heavy eight-wicket defeat at Portgower Place.

Arbroath never recovered from the early loss of the normally free-scoring Brendon Ford who was the first of James Tapper’s three victims.

However, Tapper was trumped by Tom Foulds who claimed 4-24 including the final wicket of Fraser Burnett who top-scored with 32 and who had looked capable of carrying his side to a more challenging total than the 113 they managed.

Preston Mommsen top-scored with 38no while Nick Farrar made 37 as Grange cruised to their target in 23 overs to leave the outcome of the title race firmly in the balance.

Grange are just a couple of percentage points behind the leaders with two games remaining but Heriot’s – a further three back - are still in contention after sending Falkland towards the relegation trapdoor with a thumping 160-run success at Goldenacre.

Half-centuries from Mark Watt and Hayes van der Berg propelled the capital side to 222-2 before Adrian Neill’s 5-24 sealed Falkland’s fate.

Falkland’s defeat was good news for SMRH who celebrated their top flight survival with a 15-run DLS win against Aberdeenshire at Inverleith.

Elsewhere Carlton had an exciting win by 9 runs – also on DLS - at Forfarshire while in yet another rain-affected match Glenrothes, helped by Safyaan Sharif’s five wickets, prevailed by 15 runs against Watsonians.