Abhi spins web as 3s crush witless Whits

Abhi Lohokare extracted turn and bounce on the most receptive surface of the season so far to rip the heart out of Old Whits’ middle order as the 3s romped to a comfortable third win on the bounce in some less than satisfactory playing conditions. The Llamas turned up to the 'upper ground' (which appears to have been forsaken by the groundsman judging by comparison to the far more manicured 1st XI pitch) to find a swarm of 9-year-olds playing on the square and the track (unaccessible due to youth cricket) bipolar in nature - sopping wet at one end and dry as a bone at the other. The detectives among us concluded there had been a major cover malfunction overnight.

Play was delayed, but the Llamas kept various distractions out of their minds and set about business in a professional manner, Mobeen Tahir (3-37) and impressive debutant Elliot Lodge (1-25) combining like Hoggard and Harmison in an extended opening spell. The pair reduced the Whits to 49-4, who exploited the small boundaries on several occasions but seemed reluctant to apply themselves, with rash shots yielding regular wickets just as they appeared to be getting going.

Enter leggy Lohokare (3-15) who, having been unable to practice in the nets due to some wingnut designing them with a roof net about 6.5 feet high, immediately relished playing somewhere other than St. Albans Rd when he bowled some absolute rippers in his first over. Another debutant - chirpy keeper Fraser McGuiness - did well to content with some big spinners and lifters, and took two outstanding grabs off Abhi's bowling (one given not out) as Lohokare turned the screw for the Llamas.

Nick Gavigan (1-26) bowled some trundle at the other end but the arrival of bearded ale enthusiast James Brickley (2-1) brought a hasty end to the innings as he shrugged off a concerning first delivery (double bouncing wide) to locate his radar and make short work of the tail.

Whits' total of 113 was never going to be enough, and when Jai Patel (39) and Harry McInely (55*) capitalised on some erratic bowling with a 63-run opening stand, the result was all but sealed. The pitch still had a few gremlins in it, and Jai and the third debutant Adam Sixsmith were dismissed in the same over by balls that stuck in the pitch, but Ant Ireland (18*) and McInley saw the total off with little trouble and the total was chased in just the 18th over. Early froths.

Three wins on the bounce sees the 3s in a much healthier position in the table (fourth), but face a resurgent Weybridge (second) on Saturday in what is shaping up to be a very open and competitive season in the 3s Prem. A win is vital.