Fairy tale ending doesn't happen for the Firsts. (Matchball sponsor - STATION HOTEL, LESLIE)

The “Firsts” travelled through to play Clackmannan County at “The Arns”, Alloa where because of the ground conditions the match had to be played on their artificial wicket.
Winning the toss Largo elected to field first with Gillin and Bentley opening the bowling. The home side got away to a steady start but the nippy Gillin achieved the breakthrough in the 7th. over when he had Anderson(15) caught behind by Warrender with the score on 26. Taylor(1) followed soon after, bowled by Gillin. Razul however remained firm forming useful partnerships with Sultan and Hefer before he was bowled by Brown for 35 in the 29th. over. Clackmannan captain Jhangir(37) anchored the remainder of the innings adding 37 runs with Ashraf and 24 with K.Ali. Clackmannan finished 181 all out in the 49th over.
Without their holidaying strike bowlers, Robertson and Rintoul, Largo did well in restricting Clacks. to under 200 which locals claimed to be par in even wet conditions. Brown and Gillin both took 3 wickets but the pick of the bowlers was probably Scott, returning from the 2nd.XI, who took 2 wickets in his 10 over spell at the cost of 24 runs.
Largo started to bat in what were pretty murky conditions and the gloom seemed to deepen for the Largo support as top-order wickets fell cheaply only Warrender(17) and N.Ali (12) getting into double figures. Largo skipper Gordon Kinnear, batting at 7, came to the wicket just before drinks with the score on 57 for 5 with little apparent prospect of a batting point(100) far less a hope of a win. However, although Brown(9) and Gillin(2)went quickly, Kinnear and Bentley, batting at 10, built a remarkable 9th. wicket partnership.
Showing solid defence when required and good attacking strokes both grew in confidence and built on the 83 for 8 score Largo had when they came together. Batting points targets were passed - 100, 125, 150 and at 160 after 46 overs and 22 required from 4 overs the previously unthinkable looked possible. Enter left-armer Mehboob to spoil the Largo fairy tale ending. Having previously dismissed Warrender, Anderson and N. Ali he took a return catch from Bentley - out for an excellent 34 - and bowled Scott next ball. Kinnear was left 54 not out, a tremendous performance, and Largo 17 short of what was at one stage an unlikely win. Kinnear and Bentley’s partnership added 82 runs in 16 overs.