Largo 2nd XI had their 2nd league game of the season on Saturday as they welcomed Perth Doo’cot 3s to East Drive, with the Largo side looking to bounce back from their opening day defeat. New 2nd team captain Brent Bentley was back to lead the side for the first time since his appointment and he won the toss and decided to bowl first despite the wet outfield conditions.

Largo opened with Stuart MacDonald and Collinson with both starting well after an initial struggle from Collinson. After these initial first few overs though it appeared that Muntaz, a newly arrived refugee who was making his debut for the Perth side was going to make a big impact on the game. In a performance that surprised all including his new teams mates he began to smash the Largo attack all around East Drive and show timing and skill that means this is likely be his last game for the 3rd XI this season.

He moved past 50 in the 9th over and despite Bentley bringing himself and Ahmad in to the attack the stream of runs continued. After smashing Bentley for 2 of the biggest sixes East Drive will see all year in to the adjoining field Muntaz reached a well deserved hundred before retiring with the score on 140 at the mid inning break.

The Largo side after drinks got some sort of control back in the game with Fletcher Smith bowling a tight spell to show his promise for the season which was all the more impressive with the ball in a terrible state due to the wet conditions. The game though would have a horrible delay to the game for 90 minutes while an ambulance was called after a horrible leg injury to Patrick Smith and we wish him well in what looks like sadly a long recovery.

Smiles though were brought back to the faces of the Largo side on resumption as youngsters Innes MacDonald and Murdo Duncan showed their more experiences team mates how to do it with the ball as they both bowled brilliantly in the conditions. Innes firstly took a deserved debut wicket in an impressive 3 over spell before Duncan took 3 wickets himself, including a particularly special moment when his first wicket was caught by his dad and club president Ally. Doo’cot though would finish on an impressive 234/6.

In reply with the bat Largo had an equally difficult start to this inning as despite Coates and Collinson blunting the first 6 overs they were both bowled before debutant Slade and A.Duncan were given out LBW, followed finally by S.MacDonald to leave Largo on 12/5.

Captain Bentley along with Filsell managed to steady the innings with Bentley moving the score past 50 and himself to a top scoring 31 before being caught by Hill. The story again though was of impressive displays from Innes and Murdo this time with the bat with both showing shots that with more power to come as they age and a faster outfield will result in many more runs than on this day in the seasons to come. The youngsters along with Ahmad pushed the score past 100 before the Innings was closed on 102.

On a day overshadowed by the injury to Smith, the promise of the youngsters in the Largo side means some positives came from the game that was played in a great spirit by both sides in tough conditions. Largo now go in to a 2 week break before facing Freuchie 2s with the hope to get their first win on the board for 2024.