Walker Century Sees Largo 1st to Victory

 In the first match for Largo 1^st XI of the 2006 season was away to Leith Franklin Beige in a match sponsored by Buckler Ltd. Dundee.  New skipper for the 2006 season Alastair Duncan won the toss and asked Leith to bat on a very green and soft wicket which is usually the norm at the Leith Links ground.  After only the second ball of the match Mathur edged Sharif to Gully where young Nadeem Ali snapped up a very sharp catch and Leith where 0 for 1 after the first over.  However Largo were made to wait for their second wicket as Heintz and McGord put on a 103 for the second wicket, there were some controversial umpiring decisions during that partnership as both Mowat and Ritchie had clear chances turned down both on Heintz who survived a very good LBW shout and a clear edge to keeper Duncan by Ritchie but the umpires finger stayed in his pocket.  Eventually Mowat made the breakthrough by clean bowling Heintz for 40 then David Smith snapped up McClay for a Golden Duck and Leith were 103 for 3 There were some brief partnerships by the Leith middle order  their batsmen all made starts but could not go on and convert them into big scores as the Largo bowlers managed to keep on top of their opponents with Chris Barclay in particular bowling with great variation Mohammed Sharif was his usual dependable self by taking a couple of wickets for not many runs.  Leith’s 9 and 10 batsman however proved to be very difficult to get out as they both put on 44 for the 9^th wicket with Stuart Ritchie retuning to clean up the tail and Leith finishing their innings 206 all out but more crucially they didn’t use up their allotted 50 overs as they were all out in 45 overs.

Largo started their innings very watchfully as the Leith bowlers bowled a tight line not giving openers Walker and Sharif a chance to cut loose.  Walker was batting on the back of a marvellous century last week in a pre season friendly against Cupar and looked in the mood again.  Sharif was looking a little bit rusty and he was the first Largo wicket to fall caught and bowled by Rotherao for 10 and Leith were overjoyed!  Robinson came to the crease and he and Walker began to cut loose dispatching the ball to all parts of the ground and moving Largo towards the asking run rate.  Just as things were looking good for the Fife men Robinson wanted a quick single but Walker turned him down and the star batsman was left struggling to make his ground and Largo were 113 for 2 after 30 overs still a bit behind the run rate.  Mowat joined Walker and he to was on the back of an impressive century last week against Cupar.  These pair edged Largo nearer the total and Walker was nearing his second century in 2 weeks when Mowat was out caught in the deep and this brought skipper Duncan to the crease.  A few balls later and Walker racked up another ton and then raced up to 109 before he was caught at slip.  This left skipper Duncan and pinch hitter Barclay at the crease who both looked to see the Fifers home and this looked more and more likely as Duncan worked the singles around and Barclay played the big shots hitting one huge 6 into the next door bowling club.  Barclay was eventually caught and Smith quickly followed LBW and Largo were 192 for 5 with 4 overs to go Duncan and youngster Nadeem Ali kept cool heads however and Duncan hit the winning runs with 8 balls remaining.  This was a great match to start the 2006 season and it was played in a competitive but fair spirit and Largo will look to continue winning ways next week at home to West Lothian 2nds.