Young 'uns in the 2s Gain More Experience

Glenrothes 2nd XI welcomed Largo 2nd XI to Gilvenbank Park today, for a 30 over friendly on the Ramsay Oval. If teams were bowled out then would bat through to the full 30 overs to give as much match experience as possible.

Both clubs had agreed in advance to give a focus on youth - and even home-skipper Joe Burton couldn't age the team that much, with the Glens coming out with an average age per player of just 19!

Largo batted first, and it was to be Harry Collinson standing strong to retire on 30 amongst some carnage around him. Helpful to remember here that 2nd XI games are not true 2nd XI games unless there some proper "village" moments - and Ash Ahmad's wicket was certainly that, as Collinson's edge behind was dropped in the slips before an overthrow led to Ahmad trying to run two only to be run-out at the non-strikers end after throwing on the brakes!

Melvin Tomy got a well deserved wicket, bowling Stuart MacDonald coming in at three. From there it was to be the Glens youngest player, Joe Myles, making his debut in senior cricket to put his hand up for player of the match. Bowling Finlay Miles, completing a run-out to dismiss Xander Sneddon and then bowling young Jack Hutchinson who had had dug in well up to that point. Myles was to finish with two for 14 from his 5 overs!

With Shon Thomas rewarded for his controlled line (bowling Richard Hutchinson), it was to be the young and old of Rory Konig and Howard Coates to bring some stability to the Largo batting. Young Konig was tentative to start, but soon built his confidence and started dispatching the ball around the park, with Coates keeping up with him with good paddle shots on the leg side.

It was to be Shaun Rowcliffe, bowling a well-controlled spell, to make the breakthrough as he had Coates caught for 14 by Gulawrang Matanai. This brought Largo Skipper Pete Dorey to the crease, and whilst he did have a few air-shots he kept the scoreboard ticking over. Dorey was though dismissed caught and bowled by Haris Khan for 15, then Konig trapped LBW by the returning Melvin Tomy for a fantastic 38 - and Largo finishing on 129 all out (no runs from the remaining balls to take them to 30 overs).

For the second innings, Glenrothes went with Haris Khan and Mevin Tomy to open - and with a focus on see-ball hit-ball (or perhaps kind-of-see-ball but-swish-hard-anyway) they soon got the scoreboard moving. After a couple of big sixes down the ground, Khan failed to repeat his trick as he was caught by Sneddon of the bowling of MacDonald for 17.

Tomy was to follow him just two overs later as MacDonald got his second to bowl Tomy for 17. At 37 for 2 from 6 overs, Glenrothes will have felt confident but change bowlers Collinson and Konig stayed true to their titles to change the game also - with a further 5 wickets falling for only 11 runs added.

Two wickets to Collinson but it was really the spell of three wickets for the loss of no runs from two overs by Konig which made the big difference. But it was to be Gulawrang Matanai to try and turn the game back, hitting a number of boundary shots before retiring on 30 with Glenrothes on 82 for 7.

It was young Joe Myles batting with him up to that point, and it was his skipper to then join Myles for the wee-Joe big-Joe partnership. Myles batted very well, particularly in his patience in waiting for the slower balls, but he was to be bowled by the returning Konig for 5.

With Burton snicking one behind to be caught by wicket-keeper Ron Filsell of the bowling of Sneddon, Matanai was to return with last batter Scott Beveridge with the score on 94 for 9 and a further 36 runs needed 6 overs. Unfortunately, young Beveridge after looking solid in his batting was to snick one behind also but this time to Ahmad in the slips and Glenrothes bowled out for 110.

From there though the innings continued, with Matanai hitting a couple more boundaries to end on 39 (bowled by Sneddon for his "second" wicket", Mevin Tomy going for the big hit down the ground only to be caught off the bowling of Miles and Karthik Coppisetty showing his power to hit a couple more boundaries - Glenrothes ending their 30 overs on 139.

So a win for Largo but really a win for both sides as they will have been pleased with the performances of their youngsters. Player of the match undoubtedly Rory Konig (38, 4 for 2 and a catch) but Joe Myles for Glenrothes will be equally pleased with his debut return (5 well made runs, 2 for 14 bowling and a run out).

Many thanks to all Largo for the excellent game.