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Openers Craig Walker and Mohammed Sharif strode out to the middle with purpose and Walker was keen to try and make it a hatrick of centuries in what has been a fantastic start to the season for him. As it turned out it was Mohammed Sharif who looked to be the more settled in the early exchanges. West's opening bowlers Heath and Norris were struggling to find their line and length early on and on what is a notoriously good batting deck this was going to hard for them to keep a lid on Largo batsmen. The score had very quickly moved onto 43 when in the 9th over Heath produced a fuller length delivery to dismiss star batsman Walker, bowled for 12, the look of disappointment clear to see. This brought Guy Robinson to the crease and after an over or two he quickly settled into his rhythm as he and Sharif worked the balls around for ones and twos as well as boundaries, off spinner Moran in particular came in for a bit of stick as Robinson and Sharif despatched him to all parts of the East Drive ground. Mohammed Sharif quickly reached his 50 and was looking well set for his century. Robinson had raced up to 36 when on 114 he played a loose stroke and was bowled by McNulty. Asman Ali then came to the crease, playing his first game of the season and was quickly into his stride, pushing singles around and keeping the scoreboard ticking. Sharif had started to play a bit within himself perhaps sensing this was the way to play to get up to his ton. Ali was the undone by a piece of bad luck as when he was backing up at the non-strikers end, Sharif had hit a hard shot straight back up the pitch, McNulty had got a touch on the ball which he deflected onto the stumps and Ali was out of his ground, run out for 12. The ever dependable Mowat arrived at the crease and was determined to get Largo up to over the 200 mark. Sharif, on 75, then played a loose stroke to bowler Heath and was clean bowled, the century not to be this time. Skipper Duncan joined ex skipper Mowat and after a couple of lusty blows to the boundary Mowat was caught in the deep going for another, 172 for 5. Chris Barclay joined his captain at the crease and after last weeks little partnership which set up Largo's win these two set about taking Largo beyond the 200. It turned out to be one of the most entertaining partnerships East Drive had seen in a long time as Barclay set about the West Lothian bowlers with great power. Duncan was happy to work ones and twos around and give Barclay the strike as much as possible as Barclay was in the mood to destroy the West's attack. The ball was being hit to all parts as the West Lothian bowlers couldn't keep a lid on the Largo opening bowler. There was a great cheer as Barclay reached his fifty in no time and took Largo to 249 for 5 after their 50 overs. Barclay was 58 not out at the end, which he managed off just 24 balls! including six fours and four sixes, a tremendous innings. Duncan was 17 not out.

After tea Largo went straight onto the attack and put early pressure on an already demoralised West Lothian outfit. Mohammed Sharif was looking back to his sharp best as he built up a good pace early on stinging keeper Duncan's hands with a few express deliveries. Openers Whitton and Thomson had however weathered the early storm and where looking reasonably comfortable when a silly run cost them. A sharp bit of fielding from Robinson saw Whitton struggling to make his ground and even with a loose throw Duncan was able to whip the bails off and Whitton was out for 6. Opposition captain Thomson was looking quite settled but at the other end wickets continued to tumble. Asman Ali took a very sharp chance at short leg off the bowling of Mohammed Sharif to dismiss Edwards for 3. Raven was next to depart, clean bowled by the other Sharif, youngster Safiyaan, taking his first senior wicket for Largo. Safiyaan then struck again, having Norris caught at mid wicket by Walker for 5 and Largo were very much on top with West Lothian wobbling at 38 for 4. Thomson was joined by Smith and eventually West's were able to stop the fall of wickets but in turn were way behind the asking run rate. Thomson, who was by far West's best batsman was on the end of some bad luck when, again like Asman Ali during the Largo innings he was out of his ground when Smith played a shot back up the pitch to which namesake Largo spinner David got the slightest of touches on and deflected the ball onto the stumps, the umpire was taking evasive action to get out of the way but Thomson who knew Smith had got a touch on it, made his decision easier by walking, a very humble gesture and something a lot of cricketers should take heed from. With Thomson gone for 38 West's went through the mill again as Duncan brought Mohammed Sharif back on and he took two wickets in two balls, first bowling Carver for 7 and then the hapless Moran LBW for 0. Smith was then the next to depart, caught at fine leg off the bowling of David Smith for a dogged 27. At this point West's had given up all hope of chasing victory and perhaps used it as a middle practice as they dug in and frustrated Largo in their quest to get the game finished. Heath and McNulty were the culprits and after a prolonged period of stuffy but non effective batsmanship Duncan turned to his part time bowlers in the hope they could buy him a wicket. It eventually worked as,first, McNulty was run out for 14 by Largo youngster Murray Sneddon, the fourth of the match, and then last man Snedden was undone by a viscous turning leg break by Craig Walker, who got a thin snick behind which Duncan pouched behind the stumps and West's innings was ended, all out for 144 in the 49th over. Another great game of cricket which was sponsored by Balmashie Holiday Cottages, St.Andrews. Largo travel to the capital next week to face former Largo batsman Brent Lockie's newly promoted Carlton in what should be a fascinating encounter.