After overnight rain subsided in time for a game to take place, Largo 2nd XI welcomed St Modans for the 2nd time this season to East Drive with the opposition looking to protect their 100% record so far this season in the league. Brent Bentley captained the Largo side this week with usual captain David Scott away and after he won the toss, he asked the visitors to bat first on a pitch greener and potentially more bowler friendly than usual at East Drive.

Largo opened with Graham and Merrington and initially the visiting side looked in good form taking 25 off the first 4 overs before Merrington managed to take the wicket of Cox for 6 with Rintoul taking a good one handed catch running back in the covers. Fellow opener Yadan kept the score running at around 5 an over however with 39 on the board the change of bowling to Collinson brought the wicket caught by Baddeley at point.

This wicket brought in opposition captain McPake who in the most recent games has scored hundreds against the Largo side and would be the danger man once again managing to hit boundaries from the start of his innings with ease. At the other end however Bentley brought himself in to the attack and finding the rhythm in bowling that has alluded him so far this season was taking wickets at regular intervals. Thanks to catches from Baddeley and Rintoul, Bentley would take 3 wickets before the drinks break and then straight after the big breakthrough of McPake thanks to a good low catch at short mid wicket by Merrington for 42, leaving the visitors 6 down without passing the 100 mark.

Bentley went on to complete his 5 wicket haul thanks again to a catch by Baddeley, finishing with 5-15 and with the score on 103, G.Miles got the wicket his bowling deserved to finish the innings and with that a very good all around performance in the field from the Largo side.

Looking to chase what seemed an unlikely victory before the game Largo opened with Baddeley and Hamish Sneddon and immediately knew they were in for a battle with McPake and Yadan bowling a tight line and giving nothing loose for the pair to hit. After battling to 30 and seeing off the worst of the new ball movement, Sneddon was unfortunately run out by the wicket keeper not getting back in his ground after a delivery for 15.

Gouldstone came in at no.3 and used his aggressive style to move the score 42 before he too was dismissed by the St Modans wicket keeper this time though caught behind off the bowling of Yadan for 9. Rintoul would join Baddeley and it seemed this experienced partnership could decide the match. McPake would rejoin the attack and after a big 6 to the leg side and with 40 runs still to get Rintoul went for another big shot and was bowled for 11, followed 2 balls later by Finn Miles to bring the opposition right back in to match at this point.

Miles Snr would join Baddeley at the crease knowing now someone needed to stay with the opener if the target was to be achieved. With the pressure now being applied to Baddeley, the good news for the home side was that it didn’t stop him manging to keep the score board going with the change bowlers for the away side not able to keep the standard of bowling as high as the openers.

Miles would be dismissed finding the boundary fielder off a full toss with 20 more runs to score for victory however Baddeley would remove any doubt about the result passing 50 before then finishing the game with 3 consecutive fours to bring victory for the home side by 5 wickets with 11 overs to spare, Baddeley finishing on 61 Not Out.

This result against the league leaders will no doubt be seen as a season highlight for the 2nds with a truly great all around team performance being punctuated by the performances of Bentley and Baddeley to bring the victory. The side will look to build on this result as they welcome Freuchie 2s next weekend at East Drive.