Largo’s 1st XI started their league season this weekend with an away trip to Arbroath to face their 2nd team. With the conditions not ideal for cricket after overnight rain, Largo captain Ben Coates lost the toss and the home side decided to avoid the wet outfield and bat first.

Against what looked a strong Arbroath side fielding many of the team promoted in their 1st XI last year, Largo opened with Michie and Merrington who immediately found the going tough against the opposition openers. Merrington though was able to get the first league wicket of the season trapping Edwards LBW for 15, bringing Laing to the wicket to join Gibson. The pair would build a strong partnership that saw both pass 50 and move the score passed 100 with Largo lacking the variety in pace attack compared with normal this week, not able to find the breakthrough.

It came down to the captaincy team of Coates and Barclay on show to take the wicket of both with Barclay dismissing Gibson for 59 caught by the returning Udayan with Coates dismissing Laing for a top scoring 69. However there was no let up for the Largo side with Cameron and Peal taking the score past 250 while both making it to half centuries also to post an imposing 294/4 in their 45 overs.

After being treated to one of the best teas on the Scottish cricket circuit, Largo opened in reply with Cusick and Rowley but sadly for the visitors they were again immediately under pressure as they ran in to a great spell of bowling from Plomer. He would dismiss both openers and G.Miles with all scoring just 1 before a mini recovery from Coates and Das took the score towards 50.

However this was a temporary reprieve as Plomer would dismiss Coates clean bowled for 16 before finishing with an impressive 6 for 19 in his 8 overs. Das would top score with 22 but he became one of 2 wickets for Stott which coupled with 2 for Stow meant Largo were all out for 61 in just 16.5 overs.

Against a tough opposition with an understrength side this was a chastening first match for the 1st team this year and one they will need to just move on from for the weeks ahead. With reinforcements to come and hopefully better conditions to bowl in to help avoid the 34 wides total in this game Largo will look to get back on track next weekend at home against Stoneywood Dyce 2nds.