By Scott Malcolmson

Clackmannan travelled to St Andrews on a sunny but windy Saturday afternoon to begin the new cricket season against Largo 3s. The newly promoted Clackmannanshire side started off well by finding the ground with relative ease and by winning the toss and electing to field.

The usual second team opening bowling pair of Neil Ramsay and Blair Campbell started off the innings and by the time Campbell got the first breakthrough in the 10th over getting the impressive Anderson caught behind Simon McDowell for 8 Clackmannan were in a good position. At the fall of the first wicket Largo was 12-1 off 10 overs.

Noor Jhangir and Alistair Band were next to strike for Clackmannan with a wicket each in their spell. Jhangir getting Matthews caught behind by McDowell and Band bowling Tooze. By the time Nick Bryant-Nichols had struck in his 5th over Largo was 49-4 after 30 overs. With the home side in a sticky spot it was left to the experienced Nairne and youngster Scott to try and repair the innings. They managed to put on a stand of 27 before Richard Passe struck getting Nairne to attack a loose delivery, missing the ball and leaving McDowell the easiest of stumping opportunities.

Looking to wrap up the inning the Clackmannan skipper turned to the very experienced Paddy Mitchell who replaced the impressive Bryant-Nichols. Mitchell had a run out in his first over and bowled a cracker to trap Humphreys lbw for 0. Largo ended their innings on 95 after 45 overs.

After a fine tea in the clubhouse Clackmannans reply didn’t start too well with Blair Campbell playing around a straight delivery and departing lbw for 5. Neil Ramsay and Richard Passe steadied the ship and progressed the score to 65 before the latter lost his wicket stumped off the bowling of 13 year old Alex Anderson who as it would turn out would have a huge say in the outcome of this game. Next ball skipper Scott Malcolmson was sent packing with a jaffa of a delivery which cannoned into middle stump. As it was the last ball of the over Anderson would have to wait for his crack at the hat-trick. Ramsay managed to stave off the hat-trick but fell 3 balls later bowled by the youngster for a valuable 38. Paddy Mitchell joined Simon McDowell at the crease but didn’t last long caught off the bowling of Anderson. Alistair Band was Anderson’s next victim lbw for naught giving the youngster a five wicket haul.

This middle order collapse gave Largo hope for a victory which looked unlikely at teas. When Callum Ross was bowled by Anderson giving him 6 wickets Clackmannan were 93-7. With Morven Ross coming in at number 10 and Bryant-Nichols unwilling to bat due to a longstanding wrist injury the game would be decided by McDowell and the youngster Anderson. Fortunately for Clackmannan McDowell was to prevail hitting the last ball of the 27th over to the midwicket boundary for 4.

This was a great game of cricket played in tremendous spirit by both teams. Credit to Largo who made Clackmannan work hard for the victory. Largo fielded 5 youngsters between the ages of 11 and 15 who performed well above their age and look tremendous prospects for the future. Man of the match was undoubtedly 13 year old Anderson who in his spell of bowling finished on 6 for 14 off 6 overs. Best for Clackmannan were Campbell and Bryant-Nichols with the ball and Ramsay and McDowell with the bat who managed to keep his head about him when others were losing theirs.

Next for Clackmannan is an away trip to Dunbar.