Friendly Opening to Largo’s Season

Largo Cricket Club opened its season in traditional fashion with the Firsts against the Seconds, a game noted for its camaraderie and its enjoyment rather pure competitive spirit. Played in blazing sunshine the Firsts won the toss and elected to bat. The opening pair of Walker and new player Ash started steadily until Walker’s leg stump was removed by an inswinging yorker from the impressive Hobday. Ash has a variety of partners before fellow debutant Sharif joined him and the pair began to move the score to a respectable total. Ash compiled a thoughtful 57 before falling to Nick Robinson. Sharif followed him back to the pavilion soon after for an aggressive 22. Bill Simpson kept the run rate going and he took the total to 203 with a handy contribution of 43 not out . He had been joined at the crease by David Galloway who played an entertaining cameo innings of 29 not out, which included 2 successive sixes off the luckless Steve Bentley. Thee seconds must be commended for their bowling, with David Hobday, Nick Robinson and the ever dependable David Seath shining.

The 2 XI found out the hard way that Sharif is a bowler not a batsman as he opened up the hill against the timeless Dakin. It was Barclay who claimed the first wicket though as he got one to cut back sharply to Ryan Wilson and removed his leg stump. Nick Robinson joined Dakin in the middle and pushed the scoring rate on in his own way before he was caught at slip for 16. Further disaster was to follow when Dakin was the victim of a mix-up with new batsman David Seath and he was run out for a patient 14. Mowat replaced Sharif but the twos found runs still hard to find until Seath began to show all those hours watching the Cricket World Cup had not been wasted and started to hit the ball to all parts of the ground. No other player could really stay with President Seath and after he reached his 50 he upped the tempo but was out soon after for 53. The twos innings petered out for 140.