At East Drive, Upper Largo on Saturday Largo's 1st.XI cricketers gave themselves at least a remote chance of avoiding relegation by beating Watsonians 2 in an absorbing match. Winning the toss Largo skipper Kinnear asked the visitor to bat on a wicket which was in remarkably good condition after Fridays downpours. Opening the bowling Brown achieved an early breakthrough when he had Watsonians captain Fox caught by Scott from a pacey short ball and the score only on 9. Murray and Rae however formed a solid partnership despite some excellent bowling from the frugal Robertson with the pair taking the score to 78 for 1 after 18 overs. With Gillin struggling to find line and length Scott was brought on earlier than planned to the attack and was rewarded almost immediately when Rae(42) hit a gently swinging ball straight into the safe hands of Getti. Murray(28) followed soon after bowled by spinner Anderson bringing Cousin to join T.Dryden at the wicket. Scott and Anderson then bowled 18 overs in tandem creating chances and giving little away but they could not break the partnership which added 68 runs before Dryden(34) was caught by Getti from the bowling of Gillin and the visitors on 150 for 4 after 42 overs. Dryden's wicket gave Gillin the boost he needed as he picked up the next 3 including that of Cousin(48) who fell to a fine diving catch by 'keeper Warrender. Robertson was rewarded by cleaning up the tail and finished with 2 wickets for 25 runs from his 10 overs. Gillin was Largo's main wicket taker with 4 for 65 from 10 overs.
Watsonians finished on 192 all out from their 50 overs.
Chasing even modest totals has proved to be difficult for Largo this season despite Warrender and Ali generally laying a solid foundation to the innings and Saturday appeared to be following the same pattern. With no wickets down and 53 on the scoreboard after 18 overs Ali almost inexplicably contrived to have himself caught and bowled by Fox for what had been a comfortable 32 runs. Warrender however remainded resolute and with D.Coates took the score to 92 at the drinks interval.
The break in concentration at drinks always seems to bring wickets and this proved to be the case when Warrender(44) and Coates(13) fell in quick succession leaving Largo on 98 for 3 after 29 overs. Naveen Getti having struggled to get runs batting further up the order this season then showed what a destructive batsman he can be coming in in the middle order as he smashed 44 in quick time including 3 "sixes". Unfortunately Getti's partners Anderson(8), B. Coates(1) and Kinnear(0) were all dismissed by the time he was caught from the bowling of Fox as he went for another big hit. Largo's 163 for 7 became 169 for 8 when Robertson went for a "duck" leaving young guns Gillin and Brown to try to see Largo home while an anxious number eleven Scott sat padded-up in the pavilion. Gillin(26no) and Brown(14no) knocked off the runs required with consummate ease wondering why team-mates and the Largo faithful should have showed any concern. An exciting match and a morale boosting win for Largo as they go into the last 2 matches of the season - Heriots(Away) and Musselburgh(Away).