3 IN A ROW

Largo 1XI made it three league wins out of three on Sunday after defeating Grange 3XI by 39 runs at Newfield in Edinburgh. 

Largo won the toss and elected to bat first on a pitch that flattered to deceive. Despite looking very firm and thinking a score of 200+ would be possible there was plenty of assistance for the bowlers. After six overs Largo were in trouble at 11-2 with A. Ali and M. Sharif back in the pavilion. This brought young Murdoch to the crease and with the experienced Walker the pair began to rebuild the innings. Watchfully they saw off the opening bowlers, Croall was especially tight and only going for four runs in his first six overs.

The second string bowlers for Grange could not continue the good work though. Murdoch was now settled at the crease and dispatched any lose deliveries in fine style. In contrast, Walker edged and scratched but remained solid. A partnership of 101 unfortunately came to an end when Murdoch was bowled for 50 with one that kept low. He hit six 4's and one 6 in his innings.  With seven wickets in hand and 12 overs to go Walker tried to hit his way into some form but this is not a natural game for him and was stumped for 35 valuable runs. With the platform set and licence to play shots the next few Largo batsmen put bat to ball, hit a numbers of boundaries and scrambled one's and two's. S. Bux (19) looked good and entertained with one towering six over square-leg. Largo finished on 179-8 in their 50 overs which was a respectable total considering the pitch and overhead conditions. Croall was the pick of the bowlers for Grange returning figures of 10-3-19-2. Despite this, Grange will feel they should have done better after gifting 35 extras to Largo including 21 wides. 

The father and son combination of M. Sharif and S. Sharif opened the bowling for Largo and hit all the right areas from ball one. There was no let up for the Grange batsmen in the first 12 overs as the pair only conceded 11 runs and M. Sharif picked up two LBW's along the way.  The onslaught continued when Largo's change bowlers, Mowat and Bux, found a tight line and length that made it difficult for the batsmen to score. Ditchfield bating at number four tried to attack the bowling but his tactics only lasted a few overs before he was out, caught by a leaping Captain Duncan at mid-on. 

Duboulay (30) and Croall (52 not out) were the only notable batsmen for Grange. While together they put on 36 runs before Bux claimed his second wicket. He bowled Duboulay with a straight delivery that did not climb much above his ankles. Bux and Mowat completed their 10 over spells with figures of 2-27 and 2-32 respectively. This was an excellent 'containing' middle period of the innings. Mowat's first wicket deserves mention for the youthfulness shown as he scrambled across the wicket and dived full length to take a one-handed catch. Following this Largo let Grange back into the game with a combination of slack fielding and bowling but once the father and son double act returned order was restored. It took the Sharif's 3.3 overs to capture the last three wickets and end the Grange resistance on 140 in the 46th over. M. Sharif returned figures of 8-3-12-3 and S. Sharif 7.3-3-9-1. 

Largo will face a tougher challenge next week against Marchmont at home but buoyed by these last three results. The matchball sponsor for this game was Boyack Homes Ltd.