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Largo collapse to defeat in vital game for league survival as Stow proves match winner for Arbroath
95 and 3 wickets from Stow, along with 5 wickets for Cameron keep 1st XI in relegation trouble despite Cusick's all round efforts.
Largo 1st XI welcomed Arbroath United 2s in a vital game in the relegation fight in SPCU Division 1 with victory for 9th place Largo all but securing their place in the division next year, while a win for 10th place Arbroath would keep them in with a chance of survival. Jayjit Das was captain on the day for the Largo side and after winning the toss he asked the visitors to bat first.
Largo opened as usual with Rowley and Cusick, and as has been the case so often this year they got the side off to a great start as 2 catches by Miles and one for Das helped reduce the Arbroath side to 12/3, Cusick with 2 of the 3 wickets to fall as part of an impressive spell of 2/18 in his 9 overs. These wickets though would bring together Peal and Stow who started the fight back for Arbroath as the pair moved to 100/3 at mid innings drink as they rallied after the end of the opener’s spells.
Sneddon would dismiss Peal for 59, again thanks to a catch by Miles before dismissing Gibson soon after for 3. Cameron though would prove an able partner for Stow as the pair moved towards 200. Cameron would become one of 2 wickets for Miles but Stow would continue on and go in to the final overs with a hundred in sight. However, he would fall 5 runs short but, in the process, had moved his side to 205/7 off their 45 overs and a very competitive total, especially after the early success from the home side.
In reply, Largo opened with Cusick and captain Das, with the pair starting well moving the score to 44 before a double strike from Talha saw Das (19) and Dom Coates (0) removed in quick succession. Kriskinans joined Cusick and made it to 12 before he fell LBW for 12 to leave Largo 86/3 at mid innings drink and the game evenly balanced.
However, it would all fall part from here for the Largo side as the wicket of Ben Coates thanks to a contentious decision of bowled started a batting collapse that saw Largo lose their final 7 wickets for just 24 runs in 6 overs, Cameron getting a 5-wicket haul in the process. Cusick was the top scorer with 39 but his side were bowled out for 111 and a 94-run victory for the Arbroath side.
This will be a very disappointing outcome for the Largo side as a collapse such as this in an important game could have major repercussions come season’s end. Largo go in to a now must win game at home next Saturday versus 11th placed St.Modans before travelling to face league champions elect Forfarshire 2s on the Sunday.