Three wicket win for Llamas keeps them on top

After last week's washout, the Llamas were champing at the bit to get out.

The weather was perfect, and Llamaland looked a dream. Winning the toss, Harry had no hesitation in bowling first. The opening pair of Toby Briggs and Will Brewis applied pressure from the off, just as they have done for the last few games - Toby making the early breakthrough as the Ashtead opener feathered one to Fergus McGuinness, and had the other opener dropped at second slip.

Johnny Flanders made a welcome return, bowling a miserly spell and got his reward with taking the wicket of the other Ashtead opener. Briggsy was replaced after another long spell, 1-25 off 11 overs, by skipper McInley and he was soon into his rhythm. Connor came on to apply the brakes even further and the spin twins built on the pressure provided by Briggs, Brewis and Flanders.

And it was to be in the field that Connor (0-21 off 11) was going to make his contribution, as he picked three catches in the covers off his captain.

A poor 8 over spell saw the Llamas fielding drop to their normal high standards, but it wasn't long before they were back on top again and George Elliston picked up a wicket in a sharp spell, with Connor taking his fourth catch nonchalantly one-handed over his head.

Harry completed his spell to finish with 4 wickets and move up to 26 for the season - just two behind the guy at the top, Ashtead leggie Senura Jayasinghe. Young Will came back to pick up two wickets at the end, both caught by Adi and a good piece of boundary fielding from Seth got a run out.

Ashtead were bowled out for 126 in 54.2 overs, and following the recalculations the Llamas had 51 runs to get the 24 points.

Fergus and David Gent opened up for the Llamas, and looked to lay the platform to chase the runs down. The pair took the shine of the opening bowlers, and put on 68 for the opening partnership before Fraser charged Jayasinghe and was stumped for 27. Jayasinghe was the bowler ear-marked by the Llamas as the danger man, and were understandably circumspect. Coming in to the game, he had 28 league wickets.

Gent was well caught down the leg-side by the keeper standing up to the medium pace of Hendry and then Adi and Flanders fell in the same over to start a wobble for the Llamas. Seth and Harry were both LBW to Jayasinghe and when Irvs spooned a pull shot to mid-wicket the Llamas were still 24 short of 24 points.

Only 14 boundaries had been hit during the game up to this point, but George and Connor batted patiently and hit 4 boundaries to take the Llamas to another squeaky-bum win.

Maximum points was vital with four of the chasing pack, East Molesey, Spencer and Sunbury, all winning and Wimbledon and Esher not far behind. Three matches to go with 64 points available, and one of those matches being against the Moles. A win at Guildford next week is vital, as East Molesey are playing relegation bound Dulwich.