Dominant 3s crush Sutton as Loft returns with class 96

With improved player availability the 3’s were back to a more familiar and experienced line-up along with first appearance of the season for the returning David Loft and David Gent.

Reigate won the toss and Andrew Hook and newcomer Brijesh Bharatiya got the Llamas off to a fast start against Sutton’s over 60’s veteran Richard Clark (10 overs 1 for 47) and U19 Sam Mannion (5 overs 0 for 34). With 10 boundaries between them Reigate raced to 66 when Andrew Hook fell LBW to Richard Clark for 24. David Loft then patiently began to build his innings before Brijesh was LBW to U14 George Duckworth in the 16th over for 34. Skipper Ant Ireland then hit a cover drive for 4 before becoming another LBW victim to young George Duckworth with the score on 99.

David Gent joined Lofty and they took the total onto 182; mainly against the Sutton U14 seamer Lee Quincey and their U16 spinner Ali Yawar; before David Gent was yorked for a run a ball 37 to the new bowler Z Zafar who wasn’t introduced until the 33rd over. A decision Sutton skipper Rob Griffin may have regretted. Michael Ramsden and Lofty accelerated the score to 248 in the 44th over when Rambo was 5th out for an entertaining 34, LBW to Rob Griffin. In the next over (45) Mobeen was caught out for a duck becoming U14 George Duckworth’s 3rd victim. George’s 3 for 55 off 10 overs being just reward for the Sutton youngster. Meanwhile Lofty was enjoying his comeback but was bowled by the Sutton skipper Griffin for a polished 96. The Reigate tail only had a few overs left and Steve Cross made a rapid 25 not out before Peter Friend hit the last ball for a boundary to see the Llamas over the 300 mark. The innings ending at 301 for 8; including 37 wides.

In their reply Sutton were soon in trouble when Steve Cross had opener Manish Srivastava caught by David Loft in the 2nd over. Their struggle continued as Mobeen struck in the 5th over (20 for 2) and again in the 7th over (21 for 3). Things didn’t improve for Sutton as Steve Cross got his 2nd wicket in the 8th over leaving Sutton on 23 for 4.

The target of 302 that looked difficult at the start, now looked out of reach. Peter Friend then took a wicket in the 16th over (56 for 5) and 18th over (58 for 6) before Shayne Cossey joined in leaving Sutton at 61 for 7 in the 21st over. With Abhi Lohokare’s 5 overs for 13, Sutton stalled in the 60’s before Shayne got his second leaving Sutton on 64 for 8 in the 27th over. The tail proved a little more stubborn before Brijesh was introduced to take both the last 2 wickets. Sutton finished on 94 in the 39th over. 11 of these overs being maidens.

A match where many of the Llamas batsmen and bowlers contributed; but as the scores suggest this was a very one sided match with the Llamas experience easily overcoming Sutton’s mixture of Veterans and youngsters-U19 Sam Mannion, U16 Ali Yawar and U14’s George Duckworth and Lee Quincey. Some of our own teams have occasionally fielded teams full of youngsters and been well beaten by more experienced teams so we sympathise with Sutton; nonetheless skipper Ant was pleased to get the 1st win of the season.

Highlights David Loft’s 96.