And While Alex Ross Was Beating Malden's 1st Team...

The Llama 2nd team were visiting Malden Wanderers 2nd team for the last of the 9 timed (declaration) games of the season before the 50 (limited) over games return for the last 5 games of the season.
Today’s opponents currently sit 2nd to bottom (with 95 points) in the relegation places but with 24 points available for a win they are still well in touch with Weybridge (99) points and Ashtead (105 points). The Llamas (165 points) still have an outside chance of catching top place Spencer (213 points) so both sides still had all to play for in today’s fixture.

Harry McInley won the toss and put Malden Wanderers into bat where openers Callum Cardwell and Olly Metcalfe had a cautious start against opening bowlers Toby Briggs (8-0-31-0) & U15 George McLoughlin and had reached 29 by the 10th over when a big deflection saw George take the 1st wicket (6-1-17-1) as keeper Ashwin Bhat took the catch to dismiss Callum Cardwell for 17.

Drinks at 25 overs and the score was only 66-1 with Seth McDowall (5-1-14-0) and Will Brewis (5-3-2-0) keeping on top of the run rate; but it wasn’t until the 32nd over with the score on 88 that the 2nd wicket fell as Jonny Flanders had youngster Daniel Shepherd (31) caught behind by Ashwin Bhat.

The U16’s of Tommy Bates (bowling 11-1-43-2) and Seth McDowall (catching) then combined for the next two wickets as Seth took a brilliant catch running backwards at deep long on and with a one handed leap catching Will Clapp (14) as Malden lost their 3rd wicket with the score 108-3 in the 36th over. Same combination as the 4th wicket fell with the score 115-4 in the 38th over as Nick Goh (5) was also caught by Seth at deep long on.

Opener Olly Metcalfe reached his patient 50 in the 40th over but was out in the 41st when in attempting a 2nd run he was run out by Seth and Malden were 125-5. Jonny Flanders (10-0-36-2) then took his 2nd wicket as Toby Briggs, on the mid wicket boundary, caught Harry Williams (14) for 148-6 in the 45th over.

Returning for a 2nd spell Will Brewis then had James Marks (5) caught at mid wicket by Tommy Bates for 169-7 and then in the same over (51st) claimed his 2nd wicket bowling captain Andrew Scobie (28) to have Malden 170-8. Will wasn’t finished as the 9th wicket fell with the score now 188 as Will then bowled Yusuf Afzal (7) to claim his 3rd wicket and figures of 11-4-33-3 were a reward for a fine spell of seam bowling with Will back to his best.

Malden finished their allotted 55 overs on 192-9 and the Llamas had bowled the 55 overs (30 seam & 25 spin) in 3 hours 10 minutes which would extend the minimum 45 overs in return up to 51 overs as a reward for bowling their overs in quick time.

However the way opener Seth McDowall set about his innings it looked as if the Llama reply might not need 51 overs as Seth hit 9 fours and a six as he raced his way to 48 when, with a fifty in his sights, he was caught at deep long on by Robert Graham, bowled by spinner Will Clapp as the Llamas lost their 1st wicket with the score at 70 in the 11th over.

The wheels then temporarily fell off as with the score still on 70 and in the same over David Gent (22) was caught by James Marks with a brilliant low catch in the slips. Next over (12th) and Luke Sheridan was out caught and bowled by Yusuf Afzal and the Llamas found themselves 70-3 in the 11th over.

The Malden fielders were making plenty of noise as they sensed they had the opportunity to get on top but a brief period of calm followed as Matt Hutcheon and Harry McInley settled things down with boundaries, Hutch with a six and 2 fours and Harry with a six and 4 fours, before Hutch (14) was caught by captain Andy Scobie at deep long on attempting another boundary, for Yusuf’s 2nd wicket as the 4th wicket fell with the Llamas 93-4 in the 14th over.

At 127 in the 22nd over Harry’s captain’s knock of 32 came to an end as he skied one for James Marks at slip to run behind and take his 2nd catch for Yusuf’s 3rd wicket (9-3-41-3) as Malden once again sensed a victory with the Llamas 127-5 in the 22nd over.

There were almost 30 overs left and with the Llamas only needing a further 63 runs to win the run rate wasn’t a problem as Ashwin Bhat was joined by Jonny Flanders and cool heads prevailed as Ashwin took the wind out of Malden’s sails with 4 drives through extra cover in the same over off Yusuf Afzal and at 25 overs drinks break the score was 145-5 (Malden were 66-1 at their 25 over drinks break).

It was Will Clapp (10-1-58-3) who finally dismissed Ashwin (45 with 9 fours) when Ashwin chipped one to mid off where he was caught by Harry Williams but with the score now 180-6 the Llamas only needed another 13 runs to win. Tommy Bates (7 no) joined Jonny Flanders (19 no) as Jonny hit a four off the last ball of the 34th over (we didn’t need all 51 after all) to see the Llamas home on 193-6 and claim the 24 points.

There were plenty of good individual performances today including U16 Seth with 48 runs, 2 catches, a run out and 5 overs for 14 runs; fellow U16 Tommy Bates with 2-43 from 11 overs, U17 Will Brewis with 3-23 from 11 overs, U15 George McLoughlin with 1-17 from 6 overs, Ashwin Bhat with 2 catches to go with his 45 runs and Jonny Flanders 2 wickets and 19 no; however this was once again a good all round team performance with contributions everywhere that keeps the Llamas in 4th place on 189 points with 3rd placed East Molesey (201), 2nd placed Wimbledon (215 points) and top placed Spencer (237 points) still some way ahead. With just 5 games left we have the opportunity to make up more ground on the leading pack as Wimbledon play Spencer next weekend and then Wimbledon visit the Llamas the following weekend.