LARGO CC FIRSTS WIN IN NAIL-BITING FINISH.

In a nail-biting finish Largo CC's 1st.XI pulled off a fine win against Dunfermline in a tense encounter at East Drive.
Batting first Dunfermline openers Alitabasum and Faraz found it difficult to build momentum in the face of tight bowling by Robertson and Gillin with Alitabasum scoring only 1 from 18 balls before being caught behind by 'keeper Kinnear from the bowling of Robertson. Coming on as first change bowler in the 15th.over Brown almost immediately struck bowling Faraz for 12. Playing some expansive shots Khan (38) took the score on to 60 before being well caught in the deep by Rintoul.from the bowling of Bentley.
This brought former professional W. Ahmed to the crease. Surviving a very confident LBW appeal by Brown early in his innings Ahmed went on to score 125 runs which included 10 "fours" and 10 "sixes" - 100 runs in boundaries! Ahmed showed all of his cricket nous keeping the strike and at the same time protecting his less competent partners none of whom got into double figures. Despite the onslaught the Largo bowlers, well managed by Kinnear, stuck to thier task and continued to pick-up wickets.
Bentley removed Shahzad(3) with a juggling catch from his own bowling, Amir(2) fell to Brown, Scott took a good diving catch to remove B. Brown(5) while Gibson was driven back onto his stumps by Robertson for a "duck"
Ahmed's "knock" finished on 125 when Rintoul took a steepling catch from the bowling of Brown with the score on 199 in the 39th.over. Brown and Bentley removed the tail seeing Dunfermline finish on 218 all out in the 44th. over with Rasheed 17 not out.
Brown with 4 for 20, Robertson 3 for 26 and Bentley 3 for 49 were the Largo wicket takers. The bowlers were backed-up by some excellent fielding especially as Naveen Getti had had to retire hurt with a back spasm early in the match.
If determination and resolution win matches then Largo showed this in spades as they set out to chase 219 knowing they were a batsman short and that Ahmed was likely to be as quick a bowler as he was a hard-hitting batsman.
The Largo openers Rintoul and Ali appeared to be going well when Ahmed bowled Ali for 9 with the score on 29 after 10 overs. S. Warrender scored a quick 10 before being caught from the bowling of Alitabasum bringing Alex Anderson to the crease. Rintoul and Anderson added 36 before Rintoul, to the dismay of the Largo faithful, played an ill-judged shot and was bowled by Alitabasum having scored a solid 43.
Kinnear(7) and Brown(3) fell cheaply with young Brown being bowled by one of the quickest balls he is likely to see (or not see) in league cricket Ahmed having returned for a second spell.
However former Scottish junior international Anderson held firm showing what a classical batsman he is building a potentially match-winning partnership of 81 with current junior international Hughes Gillin. Gillin(31) was caught from Ahmed's bowling with the score on189 with 30 required and 44 overs gone. Scott(1) was bowled by Amir followed 4 runs later by a tiring Anderson bowled for an excellent 56 by the ubiquitous Ahmed.
Anderson's 56 which included only one "four" must be one of his best ever innings for Largo - a model of patience and good, solid batsmanship.
200 for 8 and 19 needed from 4 overs. As Robertson and Bentley moved the score along towards the target all Largo supporters, in line with cricket superstition, stayed rooted to the spot lest they break the spell which seemed to be taking Largo to a win. 206 - 8. 211 - 8, 217 - 8 and with Robertson's 2 from the first ball of the 50th. over 219 - 8 and a win. Robertson 13 not out: Bentley 12 not out.
A great effort by effectively a ten man Largo who showed that by batting out your whole 50 overs apparently daunting targets can be reached.