Bowlers Dominate Ashtead

Will Irving writes...

After 6 months of no cricket and no pre- season games, the 2s were itching to get off to a winning start. After saying hello to a few new faces and an motivational talk from back to back league winning ex skipper Jon Gale on “what are you most ashamed of” (which ironically might have changed after 6 hours later after Jon’s performance) the boys were fired up and ready to go.

Skipper Macdonald lost the toss and Ashtead elected to bat on what looked to be a fairly good wicket. New recruit “Hutch” had the honour of the taking the new ball and his first over was as wayward as his walk to Mischiko’s later that evening. After this however, Donovan and Hutch were able to pull back the run rate with an excellent display of tight and controlled bowling, leaving Ashtead struggling at 50/2 after 15 overs. A newer, fitter version of Steven Hirst came on to bowl and was back to his accurate, wobbling best, tying up an end nicely. Not only is this type of bowling great value to the team, but also keeps him playing rather than being a selector- which judging by his ideal Llama teams, would be an atrocity to the club.

The young Oli Thilo joined Hirsty and looked like a real star for the future, nipping the ball nicely off a length and demonstrating great control for someone so young. As always, this pressure from our seamers led to the opposition having to take risks against our spinners, something that you do at your peril against the control of Wigley and the subtle variations of Irving. Ashtead learnt this the hard way, losing 5 wickets quickly to the spin twins, followed by an excellent run out from coach Tommy Lister. After some superb fielding by Jon Gale, palming down definite boundaries, Donovan and Hutch came back on to clean up the tail and skittle Ashtead for an under par 140.

Mcdonald and Lister came out to open and looked like they hadn’t been away, showing an excellent array of shots around the wicket to take the game and momentum away from Ashtead. After Mcdonald fell for 20, blaming it on his new fiancée for not ironing his shirt as he walked off, Bukhari came to the crease. Lister and Bukhari began to up the run rate and dominate the spinners, before Lister fell LBW for 36. Irving, who was fired up after Hirst selection comments that he saw him as an out an out number 8 batsman, came in and pumped a few over mid wicket for 6 in his 24*. This finished the game in quick fashion, but unfortunately left Ash stranded on an excellent 46*.

A great start for the 2s but we are expecting a much harder challenge against Weybridge at Llamaland this Saturday. Maybe as difficult as finding Galer’s wedding ring on the outfield when it was in his pocket all along….

MOM Jon Gale