Largo 1st XI made the always welcome trip to Doo’cot Park on Saturday, a venue that has brought the best out of Largo in the last few years to face Perth Doo’cot 2nd XI, still searching for their first league win of 2025. Hughes Gillin captained the Largo side and after the overnight rain his side bowled first hoping to find some early movement from the pitch.

Largo opened with Merrington and Cusick and after initial resistance from the home side’s openers both were dismissed with Cusick removing Riley well caught by Coates followed by Merrington bowling Jennings for 15, Perth 29/2. The Perth side though got on top in the middle overs as Watts and Baxter put together a partnership of 82 as they moved the score past 100 as they entered the final 15 overs with plenty wickets in hand.

Largo though managed to fight off any late inning acceleration as Barclay (4/41) repeated his feat of last week taking 4 wickets in as many overs to reduce the home side to 137/6 including both set batsman caught behind by Das, Baxter for 40 and Watts for a top scoring 49. Razzak and Vadassery would move the score toward 175 but Gillin would finish the innings with 2 wickets in a return to form with the ball for the captain as Doo’cot finished on 184/9 off their 45 overs.

In reply usual openers Das and Cusick got off to a solid start before Cusick, fresh off earning his club cap couldn’t keep up his good batting form as he was bowled for 9, followed soon after by Das for an aggressive 24 made up of only boundaries, Largo 39/2. Gillin would join Rowley who had been promoted up the order and the switch seemed to be working as the pair passed the Largo score over 50 before Gillin would be dismissed caught for 15.

Largo though would have an extra string to their bow this week as Nick Baddeley returned to the side for a rare outing in Largo colours and in partnership with Rowley, they would move their side in to an increasingly strong position with a mix from both batters of patience mixed in with some brutal shot making when a bad ball was served up from the Perth sides’ bowlers. The pair would move Largo in to position where they needed just 40 off the final 10 overs with 7 wickets still remaining.

The pair would pass the hundred partnership before Baddeley fell just one run short of a deserved 50, but Rowley would remain and take Largo to victory with his innings of 66 not out the main contribution meaning that the visitors reached victory number 1 of 2025 with 3 overs to spare.

Though the partnership between Rowley and Baddley plus the wickets of Barclay were the stand out on the day, a good team performance all around led to what Largo will hope is start of more strong outings and winning performances in the weeks to come, starting with a return home next week to face Falkland 2s.