Largo 1st XI Defeat Tranent & Preston Village

A Close Run Thing. Report by Ian Scott

On a glorious sunny Saturday afternoon Largo's 1st.XI travelled over the Forth to play Trannent & Preston Village at Prestonpans. After the previous Saturday's painfully narrow defeat against Buroughmuir captain David Scott was determined that the team would notch up their first win of the season. The team delivered but not without Largo at one point looking as if they would snatch defeat from the jaws of victory!!

Winning the toss Scott elected to bowl with himself and Rintoul keeping the opening overs fairly tight but it was the pairing of Stevie Warrender and Nick Baddeley which real raised Largo's hope of a successful day. After a long absence from the game Warrender was soon zipping the ball down with great accuracy and Baddeley showed why his spin has already taken a clutch of wickets this season. Backed up by some very good ground fielding and outstanding wicket keeping by the returning Andy Warrender runs virtually dried up and wickets fell leaving Trannent and PV on 53 for 2 at drinks(20 overs) With the ever reliable Harney and an impressive Hughes Gillin taking up the attack further wickets fell. The home side never really got going and only managed to reach what appeared to be a modest total of 117 for 8 after 40 overs. Although everybody contributed Warrender was the pick of the bowlers taking 2 wickets for 13 runs from his 8 overs.

At a strike-rate of just under 3 runs/over Largo were fairly confident that they could knock off the required runs especially with the return of regular opening batsman Andy Warrender from his football season break. Opening with Largo veteran Bob Mowat Warrender looked to be going well until to his disbelief he was adjudged LBW to Trannent's top bowler Kuntal. Following his captain's instructions to "bat through" Mowat dug in and with last week's half-centurion Harney took the score to 49 before Harney(10) also fell victim to Kuntal. Gillin(8) went the same way and concern really started to creep in among the Largo faithful when Mowat went for a priceless 46 and the score on 91 for 4. Brown(5) and Baddeley(0) soon followed - 6 down:21 required. Barclay and Rintoul took the score to 110 when Barclay middled a ball from Kinan which miraculously the bowler held - another wicket down.
Rintoul added another 4 runs before S.Warrender(0) was needlessly run out - 8 down and 4 required. Forced to strap on his batting pads for the first time this season the Largo skipper was very relieved to see Rintoul(22 not out) hit the winning runs without further drama.118 for 8 from 37 overs.
Mowat was the pick of the batsmen with his crucial 46. A very exciting finish to a match which Largo probably should have won more comfortably.
This Saturday's 1sts. match sees Edinburgh South visit East Drive.