News Useful Info Fixtures/Reports Profiles Averages Records Results Forum Links Largo CC Contact List U15: Dick Dakin U13: Ian Brown U11: Willie Anderson Dave Robertson Ian Scott Rob Tooze		2008 U15 Junior Reports Freuchie (A) 28th July - Result : Won by 56 Runs Largo's under 15 team travelled to Freuchie last week with a team somewhat weakened by absences but still showing strength in depth. Batting first, Largo made an impressive start with Mina Zahoor (23) and David Scott(16) putting on 34 for the first wicket before an unnecessary run out brought their partnership to an end. The arrival of Basher Ahmed brought fresh impetus to the innings and despite the early loss of Andrew Robertson, Basher went on to score 30 before retiring, thus ensuring that Largo would have a good total to defend. Tom Francis and Matthew Humphries completed the Largo innings with a final flourish, taking the score to 125 for 3 wickets. Freuchie were depending on Wright to feature prominently in their reply and so it proved as he reached the retiral score of 30 in quick time, having survived one or two near chances. Only Kelly was able to give him significant support against the Largo attack as skipper Robertson gave everyone the opportunity to bowl. David Scott and Robertson himself maintained customary line and length and were well assisted by Shaun Byrne (1 for 2), Zahoor who flighted the ball well (3 for 5), Humphreys (1 for 3) and yet another superb catch by Zaman Shafique who also featured amongst the wicket takers. It was left to Largo's youngest player, Ryan Brown, to bring the Freuchie innings to a close, taking the prized wicket of Wright, who had returned to the wicket, and finishing with figures of 2 for 14. This was another good all round performance by the Largo team who hope to complete their season by rescheduling some of the games lost to rain earlier in the summer. LARGO TOTAL 126 for 3 FREUCHIE TOTAL 70 all out Forfarshire U17s (A) 24th July - Result : Won by 6 Runs Largos' Under 17 team travelled to Broughty Ferry last week to play their return game against Forfarshire who had beaten them in a close encounter earlier in the summer. Batting first Largo lost an early wicket when Basher Ahmed was bowled by a lovely inswinger from opening bowler Carnegie. Robbie Ealand, looking in top form, steadied the innings and was soon joined by Andrew Robertson after Aqaf Ahmed was well caught in the slip cordon. These two put on 56 for the third wicket with Robertson scoring 28, Ealand retiring on 30 not out and both showing their increasing maturity as batsmen. Any fears that the innings would lose its momentum after their departure were quickly dispelled as Andrew Warrender and Ahsan Shafique came together, running well between the wickets and punishing any loose balls. The lower order batsmen in turn contributed well to Largo's final total of 116 off 25 overs. Singh, Forfarshire's opening bat, had already shown good form against the Largo attack in earlier games at Under 15 level and it was he who held the home team's batting together in the early stages, showing good shot selection in the face of sustained accuracy from Robertson, Ealand and Stephen Warrender before retiring for a well deserved 31 not out. The introduction of Konor Grieve to the attack proved immediately effective for Largo as, aided by fine catches from Simon Johnson, Robertson and Aqaf Ahmed and a superb stumping by Andrew Warrender he took four wickets and appeared to have halted any chance of a home victory. Zaman Shafique then took one of his trademark diving catches off his brother's bowling and with Tom Nash and Robertson joining in the catching bonanza Largo were in the comfortable position of leading by 28 runs with only 3 overs remaining. Number ten Forfarshire batsman Hill, however, showed real spirit and determination, scoring four boundaries in one over and leaving the result in the balance but Robertson and Ealand, returning to the attack for the last two overs, both of which were maidens, ensured that Largo claimed a well earned victory. LARGO TOTAL 116 FORFARSHIRE TOTAL 110 Kinross (A) 16th July - Result : Lost by 10 Wickets Largo's Under 15 team travelled to Kinross in midweek, aware that this would be one of their most competitive games of the season and so it proved. Put in to bat Largo started well with James Tooze and Mina Zahoor giving the team the solid start they needed but as soon as they were dismissed, Largo's batters failed to make any impression on a wicket which gave little bounce and against an attack which for the most part maintained line and length throughout. Only Robbie Ealand managed to defy the bowlers but even he was unable to play his shots freely and Largo's innings closed leaving the home team a comparatively easy task of scoring 67 to win. Andrew Robertson as ever caused the Kinross openers some anxious moments in his opening spell but his support bowlers were for once off form, bowling far too many loose balls. Both openers for Kinross offered catching chances which Largo would have held on a better day but Kinross emerged worthy winners without losing a wicket. LARGO TOTAL 66 for 7 KINROSS TOTAL 67 for 0 Forfarshire (H) 7th July - Result : Won by 44 Runs Largo's Under 15 team entertained Forfarshire last week, deprived of some of their younger players who were on tour and others on holiday but pleased to see the return of Tom Francis, Shaun Byrne and Fergus Bevans. Sulmaan Sharif and Aqaf Ahmed, of last year's team, completed the Largo line-up. On an evening when rain always threatened but never succeeded in halting play, the visitors won the toss and elected to field. Basher Ahmed and Steven Warrender gave Largo a solid start against accurate bowling, putting on 21 for the first wicket before both were dismissed in quick succession as they tried to up the run rate. Tristan Leicester (28) and captain Andrew Robertson (retired 30) then combined in an excellent third wicket partnership of 68 and were followed by Francis and Zaman Shafique who ensured that the impetus to Largo's innings was continued. Facing a total of 122 the visitors were first confronted by a customary hostile maiden over from Robertson but two profligate overs from his support bowlers yielded 29 runs and gave the opposition a real prospect of victory. A fine catch on the boundary by Basher Ahmed to dismiss Singh, who had already hit three boundaries, was then upstaged by wicketkeeper Francis diving full length to his left to catch Carnegie off bowler Bevans. This seemed to inspire the Largo team to produce their very best in the field with Shafique, Aqaf Ahmed, Sharif and Konor Grieve ( a rapidly improving player) outstanding. Bevans (1 for 3), Warrender (1 for 9), Basher Ahmed (2 for 2) and Grieve (1 for 1) all justified their captain's faith in them by keeping line and length as Forfarshire struggled to score and Robertson himself could be well pleased with his own return (2 for 2) as the visitors' innings closed on 78. This was an entertaining game with both teams producing some excellent cricket. Largo next meet Kinross and then hope to reschedule some of the games already lost to bad weather. LARGO TOTAL 122 for x FORFARSHIRE TOTAL 78 for x Falkland (H) 30th June - Result : Won by 8 Wickets The U15s, after bad weather and opposition cancellation, were more than a little happy to return to action last week when they played Falkland. Falkland won the toss and elected to bat first, a decision which, with skipper Andrew Robertson claiming a wicket in his first over, looked a little dubious. However, some unusually untidy Largo fielding, along with two missed run outs, allowed Falkland to stage a recovery with Brunton(22) being given good support by Meikle and Fraser. The introduction of David Scott to the attack then paid immediate dividends in the form of 2 wickets, one to a superb slip catch by Andrew Warrender. The Largo fielding at last moved into top gear as Konor Grieve and Zaman Shafique ran out opposition batters and Ealand (2 for 6) and Basher Ahmed brough the Falkland innings to a close on 84. James Tooze and Stephen Warrender ensured that Largo made a good start to their reply putting on 27 before the latter was dismissed. Tooze went on to make a fine 28, ably assisted by Robbie Ealand (20no) and Robertson (9no) as Largo passed the Falkland total for the loss of 2 wickets. LARGO TOTAL 85 for 2 FALKLAND TOTAL 84 all out St. Leonards (A) 19th June - Result : Won by 88 Runs Largo's under 15 team travelled to St. Leonards School, St. Andrews last week, eager to aton for their narrow defeat the previous season. Batting first Largo made a solid start through openers Zahoor and Tooze but both fell to the spin bowling of Sneddon, for once masquerading as Largo opposition. There then followed a series of three needless run outs which threatened to derail the Largo innings but Grewar (17), Warrender (14) and captain Robertson (retired 32) ensured that Largo reached a highly respectable total of 131 for 8 wickets, a resounding boundary by Laurie Scott off the last ball bringing the innings to an end. The hosts' bowlers and fielders stuck to their task well, making the Largo team work hard for their runs. St. Leonards, missing some of their regular first team players, found batting difficult against a steady Largo attack and wickets fell at regular intervals. Grieve and Leicester both took wickets with successive balls but failed to achieve a much prized hat-trick and the home team's innings closed on 43, despite an enterprising 15 not out by Imran. LARGO TOTAL 131 for 8 ST LEONARDS TOTAL 43 all out Galashiels (A) 6th June - Result : Lost by 3 wickets Largo's Under 15 team tasted defeat for the first time on Friday when they were narrowly beaten by Galashiels in the third round of the Scottish Cup. Largo suffered an early blow when, batting first, they lost the wicket of James Tooze in the second over. Stephen Warrender and Mina Zahoor then came together in an excellent second wicket partnership of 51, with Warrender recording a personal best score of 32 and his partner, valiantly shrugging off the effects of feeling unwell, giving him wonderful support. Shafique was unable to give impetus to the Largo run rate after Zahoor's dismissal and it was left to skipper Andrew Robertson to further boost Largo's score in the closing stages of the innings with a fine 17 not out. A total of 98 set the home team a fair challenge but the East Drive team were confident that they had enough strength in their bowling to emerge victorious. Sadly this was not to be as Hancock (28) and Mein (33) laid the foundations for a home victory with the Largo attack for once not finding top gear. Another great Largo strength, their fielding, enabled them to keep the outcome of the game in doubt to the very end, however, as they ran out no less than four of the opposition batsmen with Tooze and Shafique featuring prominently in a superb display, as Galashiels finally claimed victory for the loss of seven wickets. LARGO TOTAL 98 GALASHIELS TOTAL 99 for 7 Broomhall (H) 13th May - Result : Won by 70 Runs Broomhall were the visitors on a bright but cold evening at East Drive where the Largo U15s were still on a “high” following their success against Cupar the previous evening. With a few changes to the team and in an effort to give everyone “a bat” the normal batting order was shuffled around with Alex Anderson and Stevie Warrender opening. While all of the top 5 batsmen managed to get a start it wasn’t until James Tooze(27) came in that the run-rate really started to move along quickly especially in partnership with Mina Zahoor (12 not out). Thanks to some wayward Broomhall bowling the final score for Largo was 114 including 32 ”extras”. Largo used 9 bowlers all of them bowling economically with Basher Ahmed returning the excellent figures of 2 for 1 including a “wicket maiden”. Broomhall were all out for 44 when Mina took the final wicket with the first ball of the 16th. over. A steady, workman-like performance following the excitement of the Cup action the previous evening. LARGO TOTAL 114 for 5 BROOMHALL TOTAL 44 all out Cupar (H) 12th May - Result : Won by 110 Runs Cupar U15s were the guests at East Drive for Largo’s first round match in this year’s Scottish Cup. The Cupar team arrived in confident mood perhaps with memories of having beaten the Largo U15s at East Drive early last season and with many of their players having been in the team which put the Largo U13s out of last years “Cup”. Having comfortably won at Forthill last week and winning the toss, Largo skipper Andrew Robertson, reflected his confidence in his team by deciding to bat first and setting a target for the opposition to chase. Robbie Ealand and Basher Ahmed put on 49 in a fine opening partnership, seeing off the Cupar attack, before Basher was adjudged L.B.W. Basher’s 26 included 3 “fours” from one over. This brought Mina Zahoor to the wicket and she and Robbie continued to build on the Largo score both playing some delightful shots all around the ground. The pair added 53 to the score before Robbie was bowled trying to further accelerate the run-rate, top-scoring with 39 including 5 “fours”. 13 year old Mina clearly confirmed why she will be playing for the Scottish girl’s team in Durham on May 23rd. by showing what an aggressive batswoman she can be, always looking for the quick “singles” as well as the firmly struck “fours”. Following Ealand’s departure Mina helped add another 34 in the company of skipper Robertson(9) and Tristan Leicester(5 not out)before the innings closed on 136 for 3 with Mina 33 not out. Chasing 137 to win was always likely to be a difficult task but the Cupar squad can hardly have expected the Largo bowlers to have been so clinically efficient in going about their task. The 5 “wides” from the first ball of their innings may have given Cupar some false hopes but wickets soon began to tumble thanks to some excellent fast bowling and sharp fielding. Robertson(4 for 8), Ealand(3 for 3), David Scott(2 for 5) and Leicester(1 for 0) were the wicket takers, with Ealand and Robertson both recording “double wicket maidens”. Catches do win matches with stand-in ‘keeper Stevie Warrender taking 3, Matthew Humphreys taking 2 and Ealand taking 1. Ealand’s dismissal of Bedford with the score on 8 heralded the total collapse of the Cupar batting with the final wicket falling in the 15th. over and the score on 26. This was an excellent performance by a team many of whom have benefited from the club’s winter and spring coaching, playing for the more senior teams in the club and, for some, the additional Fife or Caledonia Academy input. The Largonauts can look forward to the next round of the “cup” with some confidence but no complacency. LARGO TOTAL 136 for 3 CUPAR TOTAL 26 all out Forfarshire (A) 8th May - Result : Won by 6 Wickets Largo’s Under 15s travelled to sunny Broughty Ferry to face Forfarshire in their second match of the season. Forfarshire were put in to bat by Largo skipper Andrew R. but openers Carnegie and Singh proved stern opposition for the Largo attack. It was the ninth over before the first wicket fell when Mina’s spin saw the end of Carnegie thanks to a well judged catch by Tristan with the score on 34. Singh was undoubtedly the key player for the home side playing some excellent shots until he reached the retiral score of 30. All eleven players bowled with Calum bowling tidily on his U15 debut and Basher and Stevie both picking up wickets in the final overs as the Forfarshire batsmen tried to push up the run rate. Largo’s fielding was tight and sharp making Forfarshire work for every run. Chasing 85 to win Largo’s innings started inauspiciously with Robbie and Basher being out from consecutive balls in the fourth over. Basher was particularly unlucky as he was out on the seventh legal ball in the over--these things happen in cricket!! However Andrew R. steadied the ship putting on 15 with Alex for the third wicket and then, with Tristan, set about dominating the Forfarshire bowlers with some attacking stroke play. With Andrew retired (32 )and Tristan out (25) Mina and Zaman saw Largo home with two overs to spare. Another good performance by the Under15s six of whom played for senior teams last weekend and are likely to be playing again this weekend. LARGO TOTAL 88 for 4 FORFARSHIRE TOTAL 84 for 4 Dunfermline (H) 29th April - Result : Won by 8 Wickets The U15s got their season of to a good start with a convincing home win. Batting first the visitors set about building their innings around their Scottish international J. Davidson who, despite a good opening spell by Robbie and Andrew, comfortably reached the retiral score of 30 having punished anything loose from the change bowlers. With Davidson gone the Largo bowlers settled to their task taking the remaining wickets of a largely inexperienced Dunfermline side for an economical 40 runs. Robbie, David, Alex, Basher and Konor claimed a wicket each while Zaman impressed taking 3 wickets for a miserly 3 runs. Chasing 79 to win Robbie and Stevie laid an excellent foundation for the Largo innings in the face of some hostile but erratic bowling from Davidson. Robbie produced a very well crafted 30 before retiring while Stevie’s 14 came from some aggressive hitting before being caught. When Basher was out for 7 playing across a straight one Zaman joined Andrew to see Largo home with 8 wickets in hand and 4 overs to spare. Mina had a harsh introduction both to Largo’s bitingly cold evenings and the challenge of bowling to an in form international batsman but like David she held a good catch. Matthew and Stevie shared the stand-in wicket-keeper role and despite the byes generally coped well. A good start but the squad must remember they will meet teams with greater strength in depth in the future. LARGO TOTAL 79 for 2 DUNFERMLINE TOTAL 78 all out