With the Reigate team including 5 of Saturday’s 2nd team (Seth, Advaith, Ben, Jack and Tommy) as well as Jacob from Saturday’s 1st team; the Llamas held the edge in experience compared to their Ashtead opponents who included one under 15 and two under 16’s in their team; but did include 1st teamers Nathan Farmer and Dan Geddes. Both Reigate and Ashtead chose not to bowl either of their Surrey Under 18 seamers as Llama George McLoughlin was rested and Ashtead’s Jack Martin played but didn’t bowl.

The start was temporarily distracted by smoke coming from a neighbouring property that overlooked the ground. Fortunately the Fire Brigade quickly came to the rescue.

Will Timmons won the toss and Reigate batted and it was a good job the Fire Brigade were in attendance as the Llamas were “on fire” as after the 8 power play overs Reigate were going at 13+ runs per over on 106-1. Morgan Barnes was out for 47 (off 24 balls with 32 in boundaries) caught by Josh Lyon skying one to square leg from the bowling of Jack Milton (8-0-66-1). Seth McDowall had scored 55 at this point with 48 coming in boundaries.

Jacob McLoughlin joined Seth and the run rate remained high with the halfway 20 over score at 211-1 and it was 222 after 22 overs and it was raining boundaries as the car park emptied with the cars in imminent danger as 6’s disappeared towards the car park with the wicket towards the car park end of the square. It wasn’t until the 26th over with the score on 246 that Ashtead’s Nathan Farmer (8-0-49-1) finally dismissed Seth having Seth caught by Kish Patel at deep long on, Seth having scored exactly half of the runs. Seth’s 123 runs coming off 71 balls with 94 in boundaries.

Advaith Bali joined Jacob and immediately got into his stride but at 313 in the 35th over Jacob on 96 (off 88 balls with 60 in boundaries) with a ton up for grabs was out off the bowling of Kish Patel when he was well caught at deep long on by a diving catch by Jack Milton. At 320 in the 37th over Reigate lost their 4th wicket when Max Thomas hooked to deep fine leg and was caught by Nathan Farmer to give Kish Patel his 2nd wicket (8-0-94-2).

The run rate continued apace as Advaith Bali (54 no off 43 balls) and Will Jones (23 no off 12 balls) took the Llamas to 367-4 (224 in boundaries) from their 40 overs.

No game is ever won at the halfway stage but odds were heavily in Reigate’s favour with the required run rate over 9 runs per over. There was a short boundary to protect but in the 3rd ball of the Ashtead innings Ben Ware (7-1-51-1) had Ben Berry caught at deep mid wicket by Jacob McLoughlin and Ashtead’s task got even harder. Ben’s opening over was the only maiden over of the game.

Nathan Farmer and Josh Lyon took Ashtead to 62 in the 8th over when Josh (24) was caught by Tommy Bates at cover off Jack Sadler’s bowling. The favour was to be returned a couple of wickets later. Two overs later it was 78-3 as Dan Geddes was caught behind by Morgan Barnes off Will Jones. Jonesy got his 2nd wicket (4-0-35-2) when Nathan Farmer (59) was caught at deep long on by Seth McDowall. Ashtead were now 113-4 after 14 overs and although not too far behind the required run rate (256 needed from 26 overs) they were losing wickets.

Next over (15th) Tommy Bates had fellow Surrey Under 18 Jack Martin caught by Jack Sadler hiding directly behind the bowler as Ashtead faltered at 114-5. Meanwhile Adam Geddes, who had scored 85 on the Saturday, wasn’t giving up the chase and with George Bustard keeping him company they took Ashtead onto 146 when they lost their 6th wicket when Tommy Bates (6-0-43-2) had George caught by Jacob McLoughlin at deep mid wicket.

Jack Sadler then had Luca Conway-Sparks caught by Tommy Bates at mid off and at 166-7 in the 23rd over Ashtead were running out of batters and the 8th wicket fell when Adam Geddes’s fine innings ended on 67 when he was bowled for Jack Sadler’s 3rd wicket (8-0-58-3) and at 193-8 in the 26th over the end was not far away. But that end was delayed as James Ford (13 no) and Kish Patel (31 from 18 balls) took Ashtead to 237 when they lost their 9th wicket as Kish belted a ball from Jamie Quantick (8-0-46-1) to Ben Ware at mid off.

Captain Will Timmons brought himself on to bowl and it was an inspired bowling change as Will had Jack Milton lbw with his 1st and only ball as Ashtead finished on 239 in the 34th over and the Llamas claimed the win by 128 runs.

The victory means the Llamas win their 3rd Trust League Tier 1 East title in a row, with one game remaining next Sunday at home to Leatherhead (come to Llamaland to watch the Trust team where you’ll see the future of the Club is in good hands). The team will go into the Play Off’s alongside Dulwich (Tier 1 North winners) and East Molesey (Tier 1 West Winners) and the best 2nd placed team (not yet decided). Details will no doubt follow.