GILLIN THE STAR AS LARGO COME UP SHORT Reporter - Brent Bentley

After an encouraging win last week on the road Largo's first team were back at East Drive where they had won 2 out of 2 so far this season to face SMRH 2s. Continuing an unfortunate trend this season Largo captain Rintoul lost the toss and were put in to bat.

Opening with Rintoul and A.Warrander Largo started well moving to 17 without loss including a big 6 from Rintoul.to get off the mark reminiscent of McCullum in the test match earlier in the week This however was a false dawn for the Largo side with familiar failings with the bat this season surfacing again as SMRH opener Coyle produced 3 good in-swing deliveries to bowl Rintoul, Kinnner and A.Warrander to reduce Largo to 17-3. Things then took a turn for the worse for the Largo team as Coates, Anderson and both Brown's Aidan and Ian were dismissed for single figure scores reducing Largo to a pretty treacherous 45-7 at the drinks break. The one batter however who looked like giving Largo some hope in this period and was moving the score along was Hughes Gillin.

Gillin found a partner in David Scott and started to look comfortable against the change bowlers of SMRH with the openers now finished their spells of 9 overs. Gillin was finding the boundary with ease against the slow and often inaccurate bowling they were now facing with some big 6s meaning that this partnership was now moving Largo towards some sort of score to defend. Scott was then removed via an amazing slip catch for 9 which then brought Stevie Warrander to the crease with 15 overs to go. Warrrander continued the big hitting that Gillin was producing with the score now moving along at a great pace with Gillin especially getting a bit of luck being dropped 3 times by opposition captain Burgess . Eventually this partnership was broken with Warrander caught and bowled for a well played 35 leaving Gillin to see if he could push on to his first Largo century. After a few more fours Gillin fell short of his hundred for a personal best 87 however he had entertained all who were there and meant Largo finished on 165 all out with the momentum definitely with the home side.

After a great tea the Largo side knew they would have to bowl well to win the game and started well openers Gillin and A.Brown bowling accuratly but with no luck. This though turned out to be a pattern for the innings with captain Rintoul changing the bowling all the time to no luck with the score moving to 78 before finally a breakthrough was made by Bentley removing Brown for 37 caught by Rintoul in the gully. This though did not bring about the flurry of wickets hoped for by the home side with Armstrong making his 50 before being removed by Scott for 54 with the opposition needing still 50 to win. This only though brought captain Burgess in whose big hitting took any doubt in the result away with some big shots including a 6 off Bentley to the long boundary. He was removed by Brown for 36 but SMRH made the target with 5 overs to go for a 7 wicket win.

Largo will be disappointed with losing their 100% home record with the batting again letting them down however after last weeks game the friendly and enjoyable nature of the match was a vast improvement overall. Also a trip to bottom of the table West Lothian next week seems the perfect opportunity to get back on form and back to winning ways for the team.