2s START with a loss

After a number of false starts, Glenrothes 2nd XI finally played their first Breedon Strathmore & Perthshire Cricket Union (SPCU) Division 2 fixture on Wednesday. This was a rearranged fixture against Largo 2nd XI, and played as a T20.

Home skipper Jay Lewis won the toss, inviting Largo to bat first - and was rewarded immediately as Dave Snook (1 for 8 from 2) bowled Coates (0). Brown coming in at three soon showed his attacking intent to lift the scoring rate. With Ravi Kiran (1 for 17 from 2) claiming the second wicket, bowling the other opener Tooze (6), Dorey was in at four and shuffled singles with ease to enable Brown to attack from the other end.

With Brown bringing up his 50 in the 11th over, Largo 82 for 2, he took the decision to retire having set Largo a fantastic base. Dorey (17) was soon to follow though, as young Karthik Coppisetty as wicket-keeper took a good catch from a skied ball off the bowling off Melvin Tomy who had settled into a good bowling spell.

Alan Benny (1 for 53 from 4) claimed the wicket of MacLeod (13) thanks to a good catch by young Ben Krzyzanowski at mid-wicket though Duncan by this time had found his hitting range and started going Bairstow-esque on the inexperienced Glenrothes lineup. But it was to be the casual confidence of youth to step up as Krzyzanowski claimed two run-outs borne from good fielding - first running out Lakes (6) with a good stop and throw back to bowler Benny and then a direct hit to dismiss Cusick (7).

Duncan was the last wicket to fall, as he departed for an excellent 43 to a well taken catch by Joe Burton at long-on off the bowling of Tomy (2 for 28 from 4) and Largo finished on 166 for 7 from their 20 overs.

Knowing that they would have to bat with positive intent throughout to keep up the run-rate, Glenrothes got off to a poor start as first Mevin Tomy (0) was unlucky to drag on a wide ball from young Merrington (1 for 18 from 4) in the 2nd over and in the third Benny tickled one behind to keeper Coates off the bowling of Cusick (1 for 0 from 2).

Young Coppisetty and skipper Lewis looked to consolidate, with Coppisetty batting well in striking a good array of shots on both sides of the ground before snicking one behind to Coates off the bowling of Ahmad (1 for 14 from 2) and walking for 16. Lewis (14) looking to open up but not finding his timing, soon followed as he skied a ball to Tooze in the gully area off the bowling of Lakes (1 for 10 from 3) to leave Glenrothes on 36 for 4 in the ninth over.

Kiran and Melvin Tomy were able to consolidate for a while, but after a couple of nice shots Kiran was to depart skying the ball to Bentley at point and soon followed by Krzyzanowski (0) caught and bowled by Duncan (1 for 11 from 2). Great credit goes to novice Shaun Rowcliffe (8 not out) for battling through his innings with some confident (and at times risky) calling and running, with great sportsmanship from the Largo players to give him encouragement also.

Tomy had battled well in his innings, though had got stuck in a singles rut come the end after trying to hit the ball too hard, and was to be dismissed for 24 in the final over after one run risky run too many. With young Muhammad Tayyiub (0) bowled by MacLeod (1 for 7 from 2) it was left to Joe Burton (1 not out) to pull-out his reverse-sweep/paddle/tap/guide and help close off the innings - Glenrothes 84 from 8 from 20 overs.

So a win by 82 runs for Largo 2nd XI, and great credit to them for playing the game in such good spirits throughout.