Llamas knock off 200 with five overs to spare after epic bowling effort

The 3s got back to winning ways with a clinical victory at Walton-on-Thames, chasing down 200 in less than 40 overs (from an allotted 45) thanks to a stroke-filled 49 from chirpy new keeper-batsman Fraser McGuinness and a measured 85-run partnership between skipper Ant Ireland (67 not out) and Paul Fisher (31 not out).

However, much credit must go to the bowlers, who put in a fantastic stint to restrict the home side to 199-7 in 55 overs. James Brickley (2-23 from 10) and Elliot Lodge (2-56 from 14) opened up and bowled very well without much luck (not helped by the continued epidemic of dropped catches), and in the baking sun, the Llamas soon found themselves on the wrong end of 124-1, albeit from 40 frugal overs.

Manoj Rajarethinam (2-45 from 14) and Srikanth Vuppala (2-46 from 14) kept it extremely tight, but it was a double strike in Lodge's second spell that opened up a Dr. Strange-style portal into Walton's fragile batting line-up. The combination of Lodge, Manoj and Srikanth then proceeded to ground Walton's run rate into the dust, and wickets fell at regular intervals.

By the time Brickers returned to sneak a second pole, it was clear Walton's primary goal was to bat their overs - and that they did.

After some well earned hydration, the Llama's got off to the best possible start when Srikanth bunted the first ball of the chase for six! He fell soon after but McGuiness did not suffer fools and set about dispatching bad balls to all parts (and taking the odd wild swing at good ones too).

Captain's orders were for the top order to get ahead of the rate, and McGuiness and Jai Patel (17) delivered, taking the Llamas to 65 from 12 overs before Jai holed out. When McGuiness followed at 85-3, Ireland continued the run-a-ball pace. Pete Mitchell (9) did his calf in and duly skied Walton's 60-year-old moon-baller Ed Thom to long off leaving the chase in the balance at 113-4.

However, form man Fisher , fresh off the back of a 120-run partnership with Lofty last week, was never going to be flustered, and proved the perfect foil for Ireland as the pair knocked off the remaining runs with minimal fuss. Twas a textbook chase indeed, though Wimbledon will pose a sterner test this Saturday - and only victory will keep the Llamas in the title hunt.