Back to Winning Ways

Largo Cricket Club 1^st XI got back on the winning track on Saturday and put themselves back to the top of East League 2 as Boroughmuir slipped to defeat against Stirling County and are second leaving the Fifers back at the top of the league.

Saturday’s match saw the East Drive men through in the capital to face on form Marchmont.  It proved to be a comfortable win in the end as Largo won the toss and fielded first on a slow and damp wicket.  Marchmont’s opening pair Chetty and Sardesai looked fairly at ease on a difficult batting surface and after 13 overs were 42 for no wicket.  It was the capture of these two that really brought about a batting collapse of epic proportions.  It was the introduction of Smith along with the steady bowling of Mowat that effected the capital sides downfall.  Chetty was removed by Smith for 27 then in the next over the dangerous Sardesai was caught at gully off the bowling of Mowat for 13.  After their removal it became a bit of a procession as a series of Marchmont batsmen came and went as Smith and Mowat captured wickets at regular intervals as well as slowing the scoring down considerably.  There was only resistance from Mathers who clubbed a needed and useful 33 for the home side but Marchmont eventually crumbled to 102 all out after 43 overs with Smith finishing with very impressive figures of 10 overs 4 Maidens 5 wickets for only 9 runs conceded and Mowat with 10 overs 6 Maidens 2 wickets for only 8 runs.  Both of these two providing a lesson in how to bowl in damp, slow conditions.

Largo started the run chase with caution as the Marchmont opening bowlers bowled tight lines and length making it difficult to score.  Stinson and Asman opened for Largo and were both looking reasonably comfortable until Stinson smashed a ball straight back up the pitch only for the bowler to get the slightest of touches on the ball and deflect it onto the stumps with Asman outside his crease meaning he was run out, a most unfortunate way of being dismissed, but he was gone for 11.  This was the only blip in a very professional and competent run chase by the Largo men as Stinson and Bux polished off the runs with comparative ease seeing the Fifers home in the 30^th over with Stinson and Bux unbeaten on 40 and 34 respectively.  This week Largo travel though to Stirling to face another on form side, Stirling County who lie third in the league.  The East Drive side will be looking to keep on the winning track as they mount their league championship challenge in the business end of the league season.