WHAT HAPPENED NEXT ? (oh you know already !)

A return to the limited 50 overs per side format for the last 2 games of the season meant a draw was off the table and this game was likely to decide the title as the chasing pack would not be able to catch the winner of this game.

East Molesey won the toss & chose to bat and despite Toby’s excellent spell (10-0-28-0) the early indications were that the Moles were looking to repeat their 152 opening stand from the match against the Llamas earlier in the season.

Harry McInley, this week’s captain with Smudger unwell, asked his fielding team to put their bodies on the line & Harry led by example taking a hit on the head to save a single. Toby almost held a return catch smashed back at him by Moles captain Kieran Burge; but Toby did take the catch behind square as Srikanth Vuppala bowled Thomas Phillippe (27) for the Moles to be 73-1 in the 20th over.

A few drops of rain but not enough to interrupt the game as the Llama spinners Connor Newbold & Srikanth Vuppala tried to keep the run rate in check as Molesey reached 127-1 after 30 overs giving themselves the base to reach the 261-5 they scored in the earlier fixture between the teams.

Harry replaced Connor and in the 31st over Harry had James Southgate (26) stumped by Ashwin Bhat for 132-2. Next over saw Srikanth finish his spell (10-0-39-2) getting his 2nd wicket having Jake Kings (0) caught behind by Ashwin and the Moles were 133-3. Harry McInley then had Max Tomlinson (17) lbw in the 39th over for 162-4 & in the same over got his 3rd wicket (10-0-51-3) when captain dismissed captain as Kieran Burge’s excellent innings of 82 ended when he was caught by David Gent at mid wicket and the Moles were 163-5 with 10 overs left.

With Connor back in the attack, Genty took his 2nd catch as Billy Dawson (11) was the 6th wicket to fall. Connor then bowled Jason Moore (11) for 203-7 in the 48th over before Will Brewis (5-0-28-1) returned to bowl Jack Miller (3) in the 49th over for 208-8. Last over and Connor claims his 3rd wicket (10-0-43-3) bowling Paul Lawford (13) as the Moles finished their allotted 50 overs on 218-9 with the Llama spinners claiming 8 of the 9 wickets and from 127-1 after 30 overs this was a fine comeback from the Llamas.

Nevertheless 218 would be a challenging score but despite losing Genty (13) at 27-1 to an excellent slip catch by Jake Kings off Jason Moore’s bowling (6-0-17-1) the Llamas were level with the Moles on 40 after 10 overs.

The Llamas were gradually falling behind the required run rate as wickets began to fall. Advaith Bali (15) was bowled by Jack Miller for 70-2 in the 22nd over. Seth McDowall (7) found Billy Dawson at deep square leg to become Jake Kings 1st wicket as the Llamas were 84-3 in the 27th over. Will Irving (9) was bowled by James Southgate and at 103-4 in the 32nd over the required run rate was about a run a ball.

Harry McInley was next to go, out to a fine caught and bowled for Jack Miller’s 2nd wicket (9-0-36-2) that saw the Llamas at 123-5 in the 36th over. With the required run rate now up at 7 per over the Llamas began to edge toward their target before Nick Rotsey (13 from 15) was caught by Toby Porter to become James Southgate’s 2nd wicket (9.5-0-51-2). In the same over Srikanth was run out without facing & Reigate were 145-7 after 40 overs with 74 still needed.

Connor , breaking a bat during his innings, was stumped for 10 as the Llamas lost their 8th wicket with the score now on 177.

With 4 overs left and 42 needed the required run rate was now over 10 runs an over, the innings received a boost and it came from Toby Briggs as he hit his 1st ball into the pavilion area for 6. Next over 2 fours from Ashwin then in the 49th over, after hitting the 1st ball for 4, Toby (13 off 8) was caught at deep long on to become Jake Kings 3rd wicket (10-0-55-3) and the Llamas were 204-9.

With 10 balls left and 15 to win (although 14 runs and a tie would still leave the title in our own hands having to win the final game away at Esher) Will Brewis, who certainly doesn’t bat like a number 11 and remarkably for one so young doesn’t seem fazed (at least outwardly) by being in these positions joined Ashwin Bhat.

I hadn’t forgotten Ashwin and was reserving the best until last. Up to now Ashwin was keeping the Llamas in the game as he quietly (& slowly at first) carried his bat and accumulated runs as wickets fell around him. He passed his 50 and with Brewy for company with just 1 wicket and 10 balls left, they reached the final over still needing 10 to win. A single to Will from the 1st ball followed by a dot ball and 9 needed from 4 balls followed by a 4 from Ashwin and a 2 from the 4th ball that brought up Ashwin’s century (101 from 147 balls). Ashwin will no doubt score many more centuries but I doubt any will bring him as much satisfaction as this ton. A single from the 5th ball brought the score to 217-9.

One (legitimate) ball left and Will Brewis facing and James Southgate bowling....whose nerves will stand the test ? James bowls a wide (one of 8 from him and 20 from the team) and a run is taken to see the Llamas not only win the game but also win the league in a game that unusually had no maidens.

This was a fine advert for 2nd team Premier division cricket between two teams that could doubtless hold their own in the higher divisions of 1st team cricket. This win against our closest rivals was all the sweeter as the Moles team was bolstered by the inclusion of 1st teamers Thomas Phillippe, James Southgate, Jake Kings & Frank Knight with 2 of them playing in their 1’s last league game; with displaced 2nd teamers Tim Afshar and James Cake opening for their 1st team who had already claimed the league title.
On that subject their 2nd team Umpire today (Darius Burge) is to ring the bell at the Oval on Friday during the forthcoming test against India; to recognise the Moles winning the Surrey Championship 1st XI Premier Division.

We had a tight finish to win the (Group 14) league last season when Jon Smith played a Captain’s innings to drag us over the line against Ashtead.
While Jon wasn’t well enough to play today he was present to see his team win the league and join in the celebrations.