On a day that looked better suited for
fish, Largo 2nd XI travelled to Alloa to face Clackmannan County. On arrival
the Largo players could not believe that there had not been any rain and
although playing on an artificial wicket the outfields was in perfect
condition. Largo lost the toss and were asked to field, Clackmannan kindly
gave Largo two fielders as the visitors were still waiting on players
arriving. Largo opened the bowling with Brent Bentley and Nicky Rintoul, who
was making his debut for the seconds after playing for the 1st XI in earlier
games. The experienced father and son Gordon and Alan Oliver opened the
batting and soon punished anything loose, although bowling with good pace
Rintoul was struggling with his line and length. Clackmannan were 36 for no
loss when Seath and Steve Bentley entered the attack, Seath caught Alan Oliver
to give Bentley a wicket and four overs later Bentley retuned the favour
taking a great catch at slip to give Seath the wicket of the dangerous
Black.60 for 2 was soon 68 for 3 as Galloway held a catch for captain Seath,
another 24 runs were added before a mix-up had the dangerous Gordon Oliver
run-out for 56 runs. Rintoul returned to the attack and claimed the wicket of
Hooper, well caught by Steve Bentley at gully 105 for 5. The score moved to
163 runs before Naine had Jhangir caught behind by Tooze. Seath and Nairne
each took another wicket as Clackmannan closed their innings on 198 for 8.
Largo had offered Clackmannan to many
loose balls and conceded 29 extras and generally were a bit low in the field
possibly still struggling to believe they were playing cricket on a day that
was so dismal everywhere else. The failure of one of the Largo players to turn
up was also going to leave them one down in the batting right away, but thanks
go to Clacks for giving Largo a substitute fielder for the duration of their
time in the field.
Clackmannan opened the bowling with the
impressive duo of Booth and the quick Zimbabwean Black. These two along with
their team-mates were well up for it and Largo were soon 16 for 2 after 10
overs with Braid losing concentration and being stumped and Tooze being well
bowled by the speedy Black. Bentley snr and Galloway moved the score to 33
before Bentley was out caught behind and Galloway followed 1 run later caught
and bowled by Smith, 34 for 4 was soon 36 for 6 as Yousaf was adjudged lbw and
Fleming the hero with the bat the previous week was out well caught at square
leg. Captain Seath and Nicky Rintoul who was sticking to the task and batting
well moved the score to 48 before Black returned to the attack and was too
quick for Seath, clean bowling the Largo captain. Nairne joined Rintoul and
the score moved to 72 before Rintoul was bolwled for a gutsy 28, four more
runs were added before Nairne was caught of the bowling of Black and Largo
were all out for 76 runs.
This was a poor showing by Largo against
a good opposition who were quite simply more up for it than the Largo boys.
Late and non arrival of players did not help the Largo cause and the general
disbelief that they could be playing cricket on a day that every town with the
exception of Alloa that they drove through was under rain was evident in the
field and they just did not get going.
This second defeat drops Largo to second
in the table with Clacks hard on their heels in third, they must bounce back
on Sunday away to Holy Cross in Edinburgh and captain Seath might need to
consider making some changes.