Irving the difference as Llamas take the win

A Llama outing with the 2nd’s and 4th’s both playing away at the Geoff Kaye Memorial Ground down by the Thames at Sunbury.
Only Ashwin Bhat and Will Hodgson played in this corresponding fixture last season and there were 6 changes from last week’s team with 1st appearances of the season in the 2nd’s for Neil Saker, Ben Shoare, Henry Tye and Connor Newbold. With both Toby and Mobeen not available and Ollie Thilo promoted to the 1’s the seam attack consisted of the midweek U19’s of Will Hodgson, Jonny Flanders and Will Brewis.
Smudger won the toss and decided to bat; but having hit a boundary Ashwin Bhat (4) played no shot to be bowled by Sara Kalsi in the first over (5 for 1).

Sakes (12 from 14) then hit 3 fours before he was caught by MarkVentham at mid off to give Saran Kalsi his 2nd wicket to see the Llamas at 26 for 2 in the 5th over. Henry Tye joined his captain and the boundaries continued but momentum stalled with the score on 51 in the 11th over as Henry (14) was bowled by Mark Ventham and in the next (12th) over with the score on 56 Ben Shoare fell for a 2nd ball duck when caught at mid wicket by Ed Hughes for U15 leg spinner Subhan Ramzan 1st wicket.

5th wicket to fall was captain Jon Smith who in the 16th over with the score on 72 edged to Jack Greaves at slip for Subhan Ramzan’s 2nd wicket (2 for 12 from his 4 overs).

The strength of this week’s Llama batting line up was needed as the innings was rebuilt by James Halton, looking more comfortable with each innings, and Will Irving. James went lbw for 17 and at 103 for 6 in the 25th over Sunbury were on top; however the batters kept coming and Jonny Flanders, in at 8 and in free scoring form joined Will Irving to increase the run rate and give the Llamas something to defend. Single overs from Sami Shori and Jack Greaves went for 8 and 10 respectively and Justin Grainger brought himself back on and a 50 partnership (to take the score onto 154 in the 33rd over) was broken when Jonny (13) gave a return catch the Sunbury captain Justin Grainger (1for 27 from 8 overs)
Having scored 47 including 9 fours, Will Irving was run out when he and Will Hodgson found themselves at the same end and after a “battle of Wills” it was the more experienced Will Irving nearing his 50 who had to depart with the score now 161 for 8 in the 34th over.

The Llama batters kept coming (as did the Will’s) with U15 Will Brewis coming in at number 10 and his 20 from 16 balls including 3 fours shows he is far from looking out of place in the 2’s. He was the last wicket to fall on the last ball of the 40 overs when he was run out attempting a run to a ball that went through to Sunbury keeper Darren London to see the innings finish at 194 for 9.

Will Hodgson’s first over went for 15 (including a 6) and a close lbw appeal added to his frustration, but Will was not to be deterred and in his 2nd over he came back and had Ali Khan caught behind by Ashwin Bhat to halt Sunbury’s quick start at 17 for 1 in the 3rd over.

With no Toby or Mobeen in this week’s team, Smudger opened the bowling with Connor Newbold’s off spin. Connor has been out of the game for a while and after quickly realising leg side wides were now part of the game he proceeded to set problems to the Sunbury batsmen.
Smudger continued with his spin options when Ben Shoare replaced Will Hodgson and Ben took a wicket in his first over when opener Darren London (12) pulled one to deep square leg where Will Irving, who didn’t have to move, took the catch. 50 for 2 in the 9th became 51 for 3in the 10th as Connor got a deserved wicket (1 for 28 from 8) when he trapped Ed Hughes in front for a duck. With the spinners working in tandem it was Ben Shoare (2 for 36 from 8 overs) who got a caught and bowled to dismiss Sami Shori for 8 and at 64 for 4 in the 15th the Llamas were in the game.

It was now Sunbury’s turn to get the upper hand as Jack Greaves (29) and the very talented U15 Subhan Ramzan (69) had a fine stand of 69 broken with the score on 133 in the 28th over when Will Irving’s off spin saw Jack Greaves caught by Smudger at mid off. Young Subhan was joined by his older captain Justin Grainger and the pair looked to have the game in hand before Will Irving got his 2nd wicket (2 for 26 from his 8 to follow on from his 4 fer at Cranleigh) to have U15 Subhan Ramzan caught and bowled and at 157 for 6 in the 32nd over, the game was back in the balance.

The Llama fielding, well led by James Halton, was superb throughout the innings and it was Ben Shoare’s good work that had Pratyush Ramesh run out to turn the game towards the Llamas with the score 165 for 7 in the 33rd over.

However with the big hitting Sunbury captain Justin Grainger still at the crease and with just 30 needed from 7 overs it needed Henry Tye to come on with his off spin and grab hold of the game which he duly did when he clean bowled Justin Grainger for 16 and 174 for 8 was soon as 176 for 9 as James Halton ran out Saran Kalsi. The last throw of the Sunbury dice fell to Mark Ventham but with Henry always attacking the stumps he got the Llamas over the line by having Mark stumped by Ashwin to see Sunbury all out 15 runs short on 179 and Henry finishing with a fine 2 for 7 from his 2.2 overs.

We always seem to have a good close game against Sunbury and it was the Llamas turn this year to make up for last season’s 1 wicket defeat in the corresponding fixture.

A good all round team performance with many good contributions but this week’s honours go all rounder Will Irving with 47 runs and 2 for 26.