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70 from Stark proves the difference as Rossie Priory come out on top at East Drive
No other batters past 25 as the ball rules bat in 100 run defeat for 1st XI.
Largo 1st XI welcomed Rossie Priory to East Drive on Saturday looking to get back up the league table after some recent rain cancellations. Hughes Gillin captained Largo on the day and after losing the toss his side were asked to field first.
Largo opened with Rowley and Cusick and it was Rowley who got Largo off to a promising start taking 2 quick wickets of Stephen and Mumtaz thanks to catches by Cusick and Barclay, Rossie 14/2. Rowley would take another wicket of Stafylarakis as part of his 9 over spell of 3/22, before Barclay would help keep Largo on top removing Kirby (24) stumped by Das and Panwar for 23.
Drinks would come and go and with it would come further wickets for Largo with Boother removing Singh and Noor to have Largo well on top, with the visitors 7 down with less than 100 on the board. Rossie though would show why they have done so well this season as they were able to fight back in the form of Stark who despite offering up a few chances that weren’t taken once again by the Largo side this season which cost them, he was able to change the momentum of the game.
Stark would go past 50 as Gillin looked to change the bowling trying to find a wicket, before it was the captain himself who removed Stark for 70 before finishing up the innings in the 41st over, but with the visitors now on a very competitive 185 all out.
Largo started their chase in what become gloomy and rainy conditions which unfortunately for the home side lead to them getting off to the worst possible start with both openers Cusick and Das dismissed for ducks. Rowley looked to continue his good batting form and made it to 17 before he was bowled Noor, followed soon after by the dismissal of Baddeley for 13 by Thompson, Largo 41/4.
At this point Rossie looked to press home their advantage and it was Thompson who managed just that taking 3 further wickets to dismiss Coates (11), Gillin (16) and Udayan for a duck to leave the home side in real trouble. Largo needed an innings similar to that from Stark earlier to get back in the game, however it was not to come with the final wickets falling quickly to leave Largo all out for 82 in just 23 overs for a 103 run defeat.
The game was much closer than it would seem from the final result with Stark's innings of 70 the only batter to get above 25 proving the difference. Largo will hope to move out of the relegation places in their next game with a win as they travel up to Aberdeen to face Masterblasters.