Morton v. Largo Reporter B. Bentley

Back in Division 2 Largo got their 2015 cricket season under way at The Meadows against Morton in a game reduced to 40 overs a side due to over-night rain. New Vice-Captain Bentley on captaincy duties for the day lost the toss and Largo were asked to bat by the newly promoted opposition who have risen quickly through the divisions in recent years. On a very 'interesting' pitch to bat on Largo openers Kinnear and A. Warrander started well keeping out the Morton opening bowlers and working hard for every run possible. However midway through the innings and within a couple of overs both openers were gone to unplayable deliveries for 9 and 12 respectively. The Largo task unfortunately did not get any easier after these dismissals with the opposition bowlers consistently giving nothing away with Largo's middle order of H.Gillin and C Baddeley suffering a similar fate to the openers leaving the score at 61 for 4 with only 10 overs to go.

This however brought together the partnership of Aiden Brown and Mehmood Khan, the latter on debut for Largo. With the pitch beginning to dry out a little both could start to attack and began to find the boundaries to give more impetuous to the Largo innings. This partnership of 32 in 6 overs however was ended when Brown was bowled for a very well played 34. The score did continue to progress to 111 for 8 at the end of innings which looked like a good score considering the conditions, with Khan scoring a big hitting 20.

In reply Captain Bentley opened with Gillin and Brown who were met with a very different tactic from the opposition batsmen than that which Largo had gone with earlier. The batsmen looked to play some shots from the start on a now noticeably easier wicket to bat on. After a few close decisions had gone against Largo in between some big hitting Brown got what his bowling spell deserved making the breakthrough on 26 to remove Sofoniou with a great delivery, bowling him for 6.

The next breakthrough then came from a great run out by David Scott to remove the big hitting Sekar for 35. This looked like it could be Largo's route back in to the game especially when Scott then gained a third wicket this time with the ball with the score on 70 then another on 84. However this was not to be, despite good bowling spells from Scott and Khan with both looking always like taking further wickets. Opposition captain Nathan and Krish saw Morton home in the 26th over.

This was a disappointing start for Largo this season but gained some good practice for the battles ahead starting against Westquarter at home next weekend with a bit more discipline in the bowling and better batting conditions hopefully leading to the start of winning ways.