Llamas Put Squeeze on Weybridge

Bottom of the table Weybridge were the visitors to Park Lane but scores of 200+ in their last 4 games would suggest they were not to be taken lightly.
The temperature was 250C at the start of the game (sadly it wasn’t to stay that way) and Harry McInley won the toss and put Weybridge into bat and his decision was rewarded in the 1st over with the score on 4 as Toby Briggs had Ian Rotsey (Nick’s brother) caught for 4 by Will Hodgson at 3rd slip to start his way towards his next bowling milestone having passed 250 2nd team wickets last weekend.
A chance spilled in the slips from Toby’s next over was not to cost as Will Hodgson got the 2nd wicket removing Haydir Ali’s (8) leg stump and Weybridge were 15-2. This was the 1st of 4 wickets in consecutive overs as the Llamas dismantled the Weybridge top order. In the 4th over Toby Briggs had Weybridge captain Alastair Stanley (3) caught at backward point by David Gent for 16-3. Will Hodgson then found an edge that saw Chris Smith (2) sportingly walk as Fraser McGuiness diving away low to his left took a fine catch to see the visitors at 19-4 in the 5th over. Next over (7th) and Toby Briggs and David Gent combined again, this time to dismiss Richard Tucker (8) as Weybridge collapsed to 27-5.
Another chance went down in the slips off Toby’s bowling before Will Hodgson got a ball to rise and hit young Henry Francis in the neck, removing his helmet in the process; however this didn’t put young Henry off as 3 boundaries followed, a straight drive back past bowler Toby being the pick. Alvin picked up an injury in the field and the Llamas were temporarily down to 10 as Toby (14-3-42-4) made sure young Henry didn’t stay too long bowling him for 15 to see Weybridge at 68-6 in the 17th over.
With Alvin back on the field but unable to bowl and reducing the captain’s bowling options it was Imran Lodhi and George Compton who settled in and slowly (50 runs in the next 20 overs) started to rebuild the Weybridge innings taking their score onto 118 after 37 overs. After a brief tidy spell from Ed Russ (4-0-14-0), this week’s spin twins, Harry McInley and Jonny Flanders were now bowling in tandem and it was Jonny who broke the partnership bowling George Compton (26) to have Weybridge 7 down for 120 by the 38th over.
Jonathan Miles (3) soon followed as Jonny got his 2nd wicket this time with the help of captain Harry McInley diving forward at mid off to take a good catch and Weybridge were 124-8. Meanwhile Imran Lodhi was making his way to a patient 50 using up the overs and giving his side something to defend but he eventually fell for 54 when Toby Briggs held onto a catch at deep long on to give Jonny Flanders his 3rd wicket (12-1-26-3) as Weybridge lost their 9th wicket with the score at 136 in the 48th over. A rare week without a wicket for captain Harry McInley who nonetheless bowled a tight spell (14-1-36-0).
Will Hodgson returned to the attack in the 52nd over and started with a beamer but then claimed his 3rd wicket (7.5-1-29-3) bowling Tan Ashgar (5) and ending the Weybridge innings on 153 all out.
After 3 hours the Llamas had only bowled 43 overs and were well behind the rate although a prolonged ball search and Alvin’s injury did not help; nonetheless having bowled Weybridge out for 3 overs less than the maximum 55 overs, the Llamas would have 48 overs in reply.
Weybridge opening bowler George Compton had early problems with his accuracy with 4 wides in his 1st over but as is too often the way the 1st straight one got through to bowl Will Timmons (1) and the Llamas were 13-1 after 3 overs. George (9-2-25-2) then bowled David Gent (0) and the Llamas were 17-2. In the 6th over Jonny Flanders (11) found deep square leg for a wicket to Imran Lodhi (7-0-28-1) as the 2nd innings began to follow a similar pattern to the 1st with the Llamas 17-3 to Weybridge’s 27-5.
The Llamas nudged ahead with Harry McInley and Luke Sheridan before Luke (8) was caught at slip by Chris Smith off Jonathan Miles and at 47-4 in the 13th over the Llamas had a long way to go as Robin Lines, recovering from injury and just playing as a batsman, joined his captain and had reached 17 when he powered a ball from Chris Smith (9-1-28-1) to mid wicket where Jonathan Miles held on at the 2nd attempt. 69-5 became 70-6 next over (19th) as Harry McInley (19) was lbw to Jonathan Miles (6-1-20-2) with the 2 innings still following similar patterns as Weybridge were 68-6 after 17 overs.
With the temperature having dropped by at least 100C and with a strong wind and darker clouds, the light was far from ideal and it was at this stage the similarity between the respective innings also began to disappear as the Llama cavalry arrived in the form of Fraser McGuiness and Will Hodgson. Fraser (32no from 48) more than ably supported a mature batting display from Will Hodgson (48no from 58) as the pair put on an unbroken partnership of 84 from 16 overs and just as Will had the last say in the Weybridge innings he had the last say in the Llama innings as Will hit 3 fours in the 36th over to take the Llamas to a win by 4 wickets on 154-6. Will’s all round performance reminding Richie of his 1st team potential.
After losing the 1st 3 games the next 4 included 3 wins and a winning draw and this week’s 24 points see the Llamas climb the table to 6th place on 83 points looking up at leaders Spencer, in sight on 103 points, rather than looking down towards the relegation places where Malden Wanderers sit 2nd to bottom on 50 points. Next week sees the Llamas go to neighbours Ashtead in 7th spot just 1 point below on 82 points.