Firsts come unstuck on sticky wicket!!

On Saturday Largo's 1st.XI cricketers made their way across the Forth to get their season underway playing against Livingston CC.
Beneath the leaden Lothain skies a pre-match inspection of the wicket suggested that winning the toss could well be a factor in the outcome of the match. Win the toss - bowl first on the soft, slow and potentially unpredictable wicket..
Stand-in captain and opening batsman Andy Warrender lost the toss and Largo not unexpectedly were asked to bat. The fates seemed to be against Warrender when he was out in the second over caught attempting a pull shot from the bowling of Subnanaboina: Largo 1 for 1. Veteran Bob Mowat however steadied the ship initially with Chris Baddeley(3) and then with Hughes Gillin taking the score to 54 after 21 overs before he was trapped LBW by Subnanaboina. Mowat's excellent 33 which included a "six" from the bowling of old adversary A. Mcdonald was to be Largo's top score. Gillin(13) bowled by the wily McDonald and Brpwn(11)who was "run out" were the only other Largo batsmen to reach double figures. An entertaining 9th.wicket partnership of 25 between Dathorne and Scott characterised by bizarre "calling" and scampering between the wickets saw Largo finish on 121 for 9 from their 40 overs.
After a hugely welcome "tea" players seemed reluctant to leave the clubhouse and venture back into the bitter cold.
Although 121 was a creditable score given the cicumstances it was never going to be an easy one to defend. Largo were greatly heartened however when opening bowlers Hughes Gillin and David Scott had Livingston at 14 for 3 after 6 overs. Gillin removed Bowering caught for a "duck" by Scott in the first over and Scott then took a return catch to remove Wilcock(3) followed by Lancaster(0).caught at slip by Baddeley.
However Ashgar and Sohail began to impose themselves on the bowling and had knocked off 66 of the required runs before Scott took a catch on the boundary from Baddeleys bowling to remove Sohail for 29. While Warrender rotated his bowlers seeking a further breakthrough Ashgar and Clark stood firm and took Livingston almost to the finishing line before Scott bowled Clark (20) for his third wicket. Ashgar finished on a fine 59 not out seeing Livingston home in the 31st. over.
The Largo bowlers, backed up by good fielding, performed well none more so than the luckless Pass who in a continuous 8 over spell only conceded 19 runs while Gordon Blake quickly found some form after a long absence from cricket.
Despite the result and the cold conditions this was an enjoyable, entertaining match played in good spirit by both teams. With an under strength team due to injury, work and exam commitments Largo can take heart from this performance and look forward positively to the new season. On Saturday Largo are at home to Falkland 2.
The match ball sponsor for Saturdays match was John Pearson - Bluecrags.