Llamas make Beckenham bat again

Reigate Priory 2nd XI arrived at Beckenham CC and looked out across a beautifully cut green outfield with a surprisingly brown hard track slapped in the middle...the boys were excited and the skipper won the toss electing to bat. Perhaps a brave choice but given the rain that was forecast for 5pm, it seemed sensible.

Will Fry and Frazer MacDonald opened the batting and looked solid against a steady Beckenham opening attack. The wicket proved a hard one to bat on and the BCC boys new the right lengths to bowl. Frazer (14) was first to fall to a great nut, which brought a very tanned and excited Simon King to the crease. Fry and King then batted with great application on the difficult deck and at drinks the Llamas found themselves in a solid position at 69 for 1. Following drinks , Fry took the initiative and stepped on the accelerator reaching fifty with a few massive 6's before eventually falling for a great 59. King went on to bat well with Nick Rotsey for the 3rd wicket which went past 50 with ease before King played on for 49...somewhat cursed by Lucy Donovan's comment: "Does he usually bat this well!" The boys then faltered a little and following Rotsey's dismissal for 33, no one really felt at ease on the slow track. The Priory finished on 181 for 7 from their 40.

After a great tea the Llamas took to the field, opening up with Ben Donovan and Shabbir Mookhtiar. Both bowled brilliantly, Ben with good pace and Shabbir with great accuracy and it wasn't long before the Priory had a break through with "Shabba" picking up the BCC opener bowled. A few overs later and Ben took wicket number 2 with his second ball and then two more in the Same over. BCC were 4 down and struggling...Ross McInley and Shayne Cossy took over and bowled superbly and BCC found themselves 23 for 6 after a few overs from the pair. BCC stayed on 23 for 6 for the next 40 balls and then after some luck edged themselves to 43 before Shayne removed the BCC keeper. BCC rallied for a short while to 87 for 7 before King and Ross M combined to remove the BCC #7 with a superb catch at slip from Ross. Not long later BCC were all out for 91 after 31.2 overs. A win for RPCC and two from two for the Scooby Doos!

Priory then chose to stick the oppo back in for 9 overs to make the most of the glorious evening weather! BCC ended on 30 for 1 in the second dig.

All in all a great performance from the Priory and roll on Old Emanual next week....