SANJAY Patel, the Grange captain, insisted the right decision was made when his side's clash with Clydesdale was abandoned on Saturday.
Eyebrows were raised around the country as news filtered through of the early concession to the weather made by Patel and fellow captain Kasim Farid whose sides had been due to meet at Portgower Place.
Following steady morning rain, the skippers s
hook hands on a "no result" at 1.20pm, more than three hours before the final deadline for starting a reduced overs game.
Given that three other premier division fixtures in the capital took place with delayed starts, a little more patience may have paid dividends.
Then again, cynics and opponents of the new percentage system will point out that both Grange and Clydesdale improved their league standings without bowling a ball.
However, Patel revealed: "There was no controversy about the call-off because the rain had swept under the covers and left things sodden.
"It was still raining when we called it off and we reckoned it would have taken three hours to mop up from the moment it stopped.
"People may say what they want but the fact is that Grange had no reason to want the game off. We may be a place higher in the table but the fact is that we have lost ground on Aberdeenshire."
Certainly Aberdeenshire remain the side to beat after an impressive 38-run victory over Uddingston at Bothwell Castle Policies.
However, the apparent comfort of this latest victory – their eighth in a row – conceals the fact that they had to dig deep against opponents who will see this as a missed opportunity to keep themselves in title contention.
In particular the home side fought back well with the ball after an opening stand of 156 between Todd Astle and Brad Rodden appeared to have put the Dons on course for a total in excess of 250.
Instead, the hosts at one stage claimed four wickets for the addition of only nine runs to eventually restrict Shire to 235-6.
Uddingston, guided by Aussie pro Tom Plant, continued to look the likelier in the first half of their innings, reaching 132-3 after 34 overs and, with an eye on threatening skies, always staying within easy reach of the D/L target.
However, the introduction of new-ball bowler Chris West for a second spell proved a masterstroke. Having failed to make the early breakthrough, the tall seamer made amends in spectacular fashion.
He removed the dangerous Vinny Bird for 29 in his comeback over and claimed three wickets in his next as Uddingston caved in. West went on to finish with 5-42, clean-bowling three of his victims, while Plant's 92 proved in vain.
Player-coach Neil MacRae said: "We have developed a never- say-die attitude and it's fair to say we probably needed it today.
"There is a belief throughout the side that we can come through difficult periods in matches and there is no doubt we needed a wicket when Westy came back for his second spell. He bowled genuinely quick and got his reward."
Rodden fell just five runs short of what would have been a deserved century, hitting nine fours and two sixes in his 125-ball knock while Astle's patient 66 came to an end when he was adjudged lbw to Gavin Bradley.
However, the only other significant contribution to the total came from Ian Brand who hit a typically pugnacious 30 while the veteran Paul Hoffmann was the pick of the home bowlers with 2-21 from ten tight overs.
MacRae added: "After the start we were given by Brad and Todd we thought we should have scored about 260 but it was important that we didn't panic."
Those games which did go ahead in the capital all reached thrilling last-over conclusions but there was despair for Ayr who looked like breaking their duck after posting 201-3 in only thirty overs against Watsonians.
However Michael Papps' 110no proved in vain as half- centuries from Ryan Flannigan and Andy Delmont carried Watsonians to victory.
At Goldenacre Greenock needed six from the final ball to tie with Heriot's but Cameron Borgas was left stranded on 84no at the non-striker's end as he ran out of partners.
Skipper Steve Knox and youngster Qasim Ashraf had earlier scored half-centuries for the second week running to propel Heriot's to 185-2 from 32 overs.
Carlton produced a fine run-chase, 71 from Fraser Watts and 59 from Cedric English helping the Grange Loan side overhaul West of Scotland's 177-5 with four balls to spare.
