Oxted’s new pavilion is in course of construction (due for completion in December) so it was temporary changing rooms but our hosts still provided what looked to be a batsman’s paradise.

Seth McDowall lost the toss as Oxted chose to field on a bright sunny evening where the light shouldn’t be a problem.

Jack Sadler faced the 1st ball from opposition Captain Joss Heaver (1-0-10-1) and promptly belted a six but Jack’s innings was over next ball as he was caught behind. The innings calmed down as the Llamas reached 31-1 after 4 overs.

The 5th over saw the introduction of Arjun Gill who on Saturdays is a Banstead 1st teamer in the Premiership (I’ve no idea why he doesn’t play for Banstead U19’s and to an outsider this doesn’t seem very loyal); nevertheless Arjun is someone Seth knows very well but it was Arjun (4-0-28-1) who won this battle of the Whitgift’s having Seth (17) caught to leave the Rapids at 36-2 after 5 overs.

Sam Bell joined Tommy Bates and the pair took the score to 93 after 12 overs with Sam hitting 2 sixes but in the course of running a quick second run Tommy had a hamstring strain (at least we hope that was the extent of the injury) but carried on batting; when in the 13th over Sam (25) was caught off Reuben Kelly’s bowling (3-0-20-1).

Aadil Raza joined Tommy Bates but immediately fell foul of the Umpire for running on the wicket and received a friendly warning only to repeat the offence and receive an official warning which then applied to the whole team. Tommy reached his 50 (off 44 balls) and retired not out in the 16th over with the score on 122-3.

Advaith Bali (9) hit a six in his brief stay as the Llamas lost 3 wickets in the 19th over as Jonny Naylor firstly had Adi caught and bowled (147-4) and next ball Will Jones was bowled and 2 balls later Aadil Raza, 22 at a run a ball, was caught, leaving Jonny Naylor with figures of 4-0-29-3 and Reigate on 148-6 with one over left. Ben Ware (3no) and Tom Hart (8no) closed the Reigate innings on 156 after their allotted 20 overs.

At the halfway stage, although 150+ is always challenging, this looked as if it might be a bit light on this batsman’s paradise.

Ben Ware opened the bowling and frequently found the edge but it was his opening bowling partner Jonathan Wylie (2-0-21-1) who stuck in his 1st over when Advaith Bali running in from the boundary took an excellent catch to dismiss Reuben Kelly (5) to see the Oxted Grasshoppers at 15-1. Ben joined the wicket taking in the 3rd over getting the prized wicket of Arjun Gill who under edged the ball for keeper Sam Bell to take an excellent catch and have Oxted 17-2.

Ben (3-0-24-2) struck again in his next over (the 5th) as Will Jones took a skier to dismiss Felix Cursons (27) who with 2 sixes and 3 fours was beginning to make the Llamas 156 look reachable. Will Jones then had Ben Barney (12) out for Sam Bell’s 2nd catch and at 47-4 in the 6th over the Llamas looked to be on top which they confirmed as Tommy Bates (4-0-19-2) had Jonny Naylor (3) caught and bowled and in the same over (9th) had Cameron Read caught by Ben Ware to have Oxted at 64-6 in the 9th over.

Seth McDowall (2-0-19-1) came onto bowl and immediately took a wicket as Jonathan Wylie took an excellent catch (the Llama catching on the evening was brilliant) that saw Jake Bennett dismissed for 1 as Oxted were now 65-7 in the 10th over.

What looked like a stroll to victory was perhaps jumping the gun as Oxted 1st teamer Matt Thomas stroked his way to 50 (retired not out in the 15th over- but he was to return) which included 2 sixes and 6 fours in his 32 ball 50.

Will Graham had bowled his 1st over for 8 runs but his 2nd over (the 16th) was more eventful as he bowled 3 no balls as his bowling action deserted him as he had to be taken out of the attack. I’m sure Will will have better days.

Will Jones got his 2nd wicket (4-0-26-2) clipping the top of off stump to dismiss Sam Hartley for 17 and leaving Oxted on 128-8 in the 17th over. Jack Sadler bowled the 18th over but it was run outs that claimed the last two wickets as firstly Captain Joss Heaver (1) was run out by Sam Bell and then Matt Thomas who had returned after retiring on 50 was run out by an Aadil Raza/Jack Sadler combination attempting a 2nd run off a no ball as the Oxted innings collapsed on 132-9 then 134 all out.

Oxted were 23 runs short with 2 overs remaining and had Matt Thomas not attempted that 2nd run then the result may well have been different; but a winning start nonetheless.