Top of the table prove too strong for Largo.Reporter - B. Bentley

On an overcast but pleasant day at Largo, Top of the table Morton were the visitors at East Drive and as has been the usual this year Largo lost the toss and were put in to bat on an unusually green wicket due to the overnight rain.
Openers Rintoul and Warrander started well with the score moved to 25 off just 5 overs, a score which took 21 overs in the corresponding fixture, before Rintoul missed one on leg stump and was bowled via a deflection off his pad for 11. This unfortunately led to a theme occurring in the first half of the innings of batsmen getting a start and getting out with Warrander (14), Kinnear (12) and Coates (12) all looking good before their dismissals leaving the score at the halfway point at 60-4. The innings was though to change in fortune after drinks towards the home side with the partnership of Anderson and A.Brown. After an initial consolidation period both started to find the boundaries with ease, with the opposition visibly getting demoralised by how well the Largo team were playing. Anderson was however the first to go when the partnership was broken for a well played 42 with Aidan following after for a well played 50. The runs continued to flow though with Farooq Khan and Ian Brown hitting cleanly at the end to finish the innings on a very good 213-9 in 45 overs which looked like a very defendable score from the home side.
After tea Largo started with the usual attack of A.Brown and F.Khan and it was Brown who made the breakthrough removing Patel for 1 after an amazing one handed slip catch from Anderson. This however brought Mahalingam to the crease and immediately along with opener Aron started to attack with their own brand of hard hitting which was proving effective with no Largo bowler able to stop the flow of runs on a consistent basis to put some pressure on the Morton batsmen. Eventually thanks to another fine catch this time from A.Brown, Aron was removed by captain Rintoul for 62 leaving the Morton batsman still needing 65 to win. This brought opposition captain Nathan to the crease and was met by the reintroduction of Brown to the attack who proceeded to bowl as quick as he has all year making Nathan take a few on the arm and dodge a few past his ears and created 2 chances one to each batsman that were put down and with that any chances of a Largo victory. Mahalingam made it to a well played century finishing on 111 not out with Morton winning by 8 wickets and deservedly so on the day, showing why they have been so successful this year in Division 2.
A disappointing loss for the Largo boys but they will be encouraged in scoring 200+ against a fine attack and will look to get back to winning ways in Falkirk next week against Westquarter.