Reigate Priory ended victorious by 7 runs, after making the short trip West to Ashtead for a 50 over match on a glorious summer’s day with Royal Wedding fever gripping Priory’s Australian overseas star Andy Delmont. 71 not out from Chris Murtagh, and 3-34 for Luke Beaven helped steer Reigate to the victory, maintaining their unbeaten start to the year.
Winning the toss Llama skipper Murtagh had no hesitation in batting first. Opening pair of Richard Oliver and Danny Miller got the away team off to a good start putting on 39 for the first wicket, but from the early stages the ball was keeping low causing a re think to what might be a good score.
Miller was first out, caught behind off the bowling of veteran John Vaughan-Davies for 12. Oliver quickly followed caught at backward point after a bright 29 from 38 balls, with the score on 44.
Andy Delmont and Chris Murtagh started to re build the innings before Delmont chopped on off the bowling of Lalit Bose for 23. Murtagh went on to bat through the innings finishing on 71 from 92 balls, and in patches was well supported by Angus Dahl (32) and Richard Stevens (29), in helping post 226/8 from their allotted 50 overs. The total looked just above par.
However, an hour later this did not look to be the case as Ashtead openers Guy Harper and David White started in positive fashion hitting boundaries all-round the wicket. With the score on 52, Harper tried to loft Will Hodson over the top, but was caught at mid-off for 22.
Priory’s fortunes turned around quickly at this point, and before long the home team found themselves 88/6 with a mountain to climb after wickets from Hodson, Stevens, Beaven had halted progress.
A resilient 60 from 71 balls from Tom Homes down the order breathed life into the game, but in truth Reigate were always favourites to win, and did so in the end by 7 runs.
The llamas’s welcome Wimbledon to Park Lane on Saturday in a 50 over match starting at 12pm.