Largo CC deliver season's bestperformance for opening win

Hughes Gillin bowls for Largo CC on their way to victory

Despite a mixed forecast and a lot of overnight rain, Largo's 1st XI produced their best form of the season for their first league win.

Second-placed Kirk Brae provided the opposition and were put in to bat after losing the toss.

Beginning the bowling against the visitors’ very effective opening pair of Colven and Sangster, Aidan Brown and Scott started well, with Brown especially bowling with great pace down the hill.

Eventually, he was rewarded for his consistency with the opening wicket of Sangster, caught behind by Warrander for 11.

A period of tight bowling by Bentley and Hughes Gillin followed the dismissal of top Division 2 runs scorer Ghande’s dismissal. By the time Gillin had claimed his first wicket and Bentley removed Colvin, thanks to a very sharp catch by debutant Robbie Allen, Kirk Brae were 55-4 with less than half the overs to go and Largo were well on top.

Kirk Brae batsmen numbers five to eight, however, all got to double figures with boundaries.

Rintoul and Barclay both picked up a wicket each to peg back the opposition slightly, just as they were ascending.

Brown and Gillin finished off the innings in style, quickly removing the lower order to claim a three-wicket haul each and leave Largo chasing 157 to win.

Opening the innings Warrander was removed early on for five and Gillin came to the wicket, immediately looking in great form to find the boundary with regularity, with a six to the cover boundary a highlight. He lost captain Rintoul for 14 but, with Aidan Brown coming to the wicket, the momentum did not change and, at halfway, mark Largo were 72-2 and looking in a great position for the win.

Gillin went, however, for a well played 42 and Largo were four wickets down while requiring 72 for victory.

But a brilliant partnership was to follow followed between Ian and Aidan Brown.

Once Ian had taken 12 off an over by Bansode including a six into the Largo pavilion, Largo needed just 20 off the final five overs and finally just required three of them for their maiden league victory of 2016, lifting them off the bottom of the league. Ian ended on 44 not out and Aidan on 41.

This week, Largo are away to unbeaten league leaders Edinburgh South.