By Scott Malcolmson

Blair Campbell and Will Kay opened the bowling but found Barnes and Bentley in good form and taking little chances. The only chance in the first ten overs coming off Kay’s bowling as Bentley cut a ball past Ahmed who failed to react. Ally Band and Callum Ross replaced Campbell and Kay and didn’t fare much better although Band was unfortunate when wicketkeeper Steve Jelfs dropped Barnes. After 19 overs Largo were 71 without loss. Enter Tippu Sultan who struck in his first over bowling Bentley for 34 with his fifth ball for a wicket maiden. Muktar Ahmed replaced Band and bowled tightly.  Grewar joined Barnes at the crease, Sultan and Ahmed although not taking any more wickets slowed Largos run rate. After 30 overs they were 96 for 1. The final 15 overs were going to be crucial. Unfortunately for Clackmannan they were only able to create two more chance. Barry Malcolmson dropped Grewar at cover and Sultan missed a run out from under a yard from the stumps with the batsmen halfway up the wicket. Sultan did make some amends for this later by running out the same batsmen. Largo finished on 192 for 2 from their allotted 45 overs.
After tea Ken Hutchison and Blair Campbell started the reply and both batsmen looked comfortable against the Largo openers. When Hutchison smashed 12 off the 7th over Clackmannan were 26 without loss. Blair and Ken pushed the score along and in the process put on a 50 run opening partnership for the 2nd consecutive week. Campbell departed in the 17th over for 17 and was followed by Hutchison in the 18th over for 26. Clackmannan were now on 57 for 2 with two new batsmen, Tippu Sultan and Calum Ross, at the crease. Ross departed for a duck and was soon followed by Sultan stumped by Grewar off the bowling of Nairne. Grewar had just replaced Mowat as wicketkeeper at the beginning of this over. Alastair Band and Muktar Ahmed halted the fall of wickets. Both batsmen played themselves in although Muktar had his share of luck. After playing at a straight delivery for the entire world it appeared he had gloved it to the keeper. Unfortunately for Largo the only person at the ground who didn’t think so, was the inexperienced umpire who gave it not out. Ahmed used this and along with Band put on 54 for the fifth wicket. If only the running had been better, during this partnership the ball went to all parts of the boundary for a single. Scott Malcolmson joined Band, who by now was struggling to get the ball away and fell for 16 off the bowling Warrander. Barry joined his brother at the crease and scored 6 before he was bowled for 6. Scott was now getting into the game and was hitting a few boundaries to push the score onto 153 going into the final over.  Off the first ball Morven Ross was run out going for two and off the second ball Steve Jelfs was run out going for 2. Will Kay joined the skipper at the crease and avoided the hat trick of run outs when the pair actually managed to run two. Malcolmson finally departed stumped by Grewar for 31.
This was a fantastic effort from an under strength Clackmannan team who fell 31 runs short of victory. Next week Clackmannan travel to Glenrothes hoping to get their season back on track.