County were still uncomfortably close to the relegation zone, and a victory would have assured them a life-line in the division, whilst Marchmont are still strong contenders for promotion and nothing less than a win would suffice for them.

Earlier in the season Marchmont had inflicted a crushing defeat on County by 10 wickets at Cavalry Park - a game from which Peebles took not a single bonus point as they were dismissed for 34 and failed to take a wicket.

Things were very different on Saturday.

Play had been switched to the artificial due to heavy overnight rain. Acting captain Caddick won the toss and elected to bat. A useful opening partnership between Waddle, 37, and Murray produced 30 runs before the latter feeling the pressure of the relentlessly tight Marchmont bowling called for a suicidal run-out and paid the price.

Waddle and Caddick, 49, took the innings along well, albeit at a slowish rate, and never quite managed to dominate a strong bowling attack. Rimmer produced a quick-fire knock before the innings ended on 149, tantalizingly close to 150, a score which would have yielded a vital additional batting point.

This was a reasonable score all things considered, belonging in the defendable range.

The visitors got off to a healthy start and looked to be cruising to victory before it all started to go horribly wrong for them in the bright, windy conditions.

Wickets started to tumble at an alarming rate for Marchmont as every catch was snapped up by Peebles who were in top form in the field. Collapses do not happen by sheer accident and all credit is due to County’s six bowlers whose persistence in bowling well when all seemed lost brought them so close to victory.

Tragically they had done the hard work, but couldn’t complete the simple one of dismissing either of two nervous tail-enders. Both men showed commendable sang froide in the face of considerable pressure and steered Marchmont over the line in the narrowest of victories.

Fortunately for County their good performance brings them eight bonus points.

Twenty of course would have been preferable.

The two teams directly below them in the table, Falkland and Livingston both lost so County can breathe a little easier but they are not yet totally safe.

The most difficult of games, away to league-leaders Penicuik awaits them next week, followed by a home game against fellow strugglers Falkland.

Peebles County -P Murray RO Ramachandra 6 -R Waddell c&b N Granger 37 -P Caddick c Dalton b Durling 49 -A Maxwell b Sheikh 17 -C Cormack RO Granger 3 -O Rimmer b Clayton 17 -J Moynihan 10 -A Anderson 1 Extras 1b 4lb 4w 9 Total for 6 wkts (45 ovs) 149 Marchmont 2 -S Panchal c Pace b Rimmer 14 -N Chetty c Pace b Burns 46 -C Dalton c Caddick b Maxwell 22 -H Ramachandra c Pace b Webb 30 -A Sheikh LBW Burns 0 -N Granger c Webb b Anderson 1 -M Burgen 11 -S Clayton c Anderson b Caddick 8 -A Razvi c Rimmer b Anderson 0 -C Durling LBW Caddick 0 -S Marr 1 Extras 8b 1lb 4w 4nb 17 Total for 9 wkts (40 ovs) 150