Llamas Foil Bank Raid

The Llamas hosted the Bank of England (top of division 2) in the ¼ final of the Surrey Championship T20 on a cloudy Thursday evening (24th June)
Reigate won the toss & batted & Richie Oliver hit 3 fours to see Reigate at 19-0 after 2 overs. The Bank reduced the (run) rate over the next 2 overs; including a maiden from Henry Goodwin (4-1-13-0), that saw Reigate on 20 without loss after 4 overs. With Richie continuing his run a ball innings, fellow opener Danny Miller had less success and was caught for 8 off the bowling of James Woodroof and Reigate were 36-1 in the 7th over.
The Bank’s economy rate continued to keep the Llamas on the back foot as Luke Haughton (5) was bowled for James Woodroof’s 2nd wicket and at the halfway stage Reigate had stalled at 48-2.
Richie went past his 50 before Jordan Bunyan ramped a 4 and went one better off the next ball which he ramped for a 6 to give the innings a much needed impetus and for the pair to pass their 50 partnership before Richie (52) fell to a spectacular catch as the 3rd wicket fell at 99-3.
With 8 balls left Priory were 105-3 and then James Woodroof (4-0-19-3) had Tom Massey (losing his balance) stumped for 2 before 12 runs came from the last over for the Llamas to finish on 115-4; with Jordan Bunyan undefeated on a run a ball 32.
Having defended 130-6 in the past 2 rounds (v Dorking & Malden Wanderers) the Llamas got off to a good start when Connor Newbold followed up a 1st ball wide with a straight delivery to have George Hallas lbw for a duck for 1-1. A 2nd wicket from the last ball of the opening over saw Sam Brandon (4) out to a low diving caught and bowled for Connor’s second wicket (4-0-28-2) and the Bank were 7-2 after 1 over.
The (run) rate changed; including 16 from one of Hutch’s overs, and the Bank had reached 50-2 after 7 overs when Packers (4-0-23-1) joined the attack and took the wicket of Kit Winder (24) thanks to the acrobatic catch from Harry McInley and the Bank were 54-3.
Ed Jones (17) hit the ball into the outfield and set off for a run........as did his runner......the runner made his ground but Ed did not & was out of his ground as Luke Haughton ran him out at 58-4.
Mickey Munday had keeper Patrick Tice lbw for 7 and the Bank had lost 5 wickets for 65 runs at the halfway stage needing 51 more runs from 10 overs.
With one ball left of the 14th over the Bank had reached 90-5, needing only 26 runs from all but 6 overs, when Danny Miller took a catch off Harry McInley to dismiss Henry Goodwin for 18 at 90-6. Next over it was 91-7 as Mickey Munday (4-0-10-2) bowled Rory Sale for 3 and the Llama squeeze continued when Harry McInley got his 2nd wicket (4-0-15-2) bowling Bank captain James Woodroof (4) and with 13 deliveries remaining the Bank were 100-8 still needing 15 to tie.
7 runs from the 19th over meant Ollie Thilo had 8 runs to defend off the last over. Ollie had spilled a catch earlier but redemption was at hand as Ollie bowled 3 dot balls and got the wicket (2-0-10-1) of Tom Dickson bowled for 16 to see his debt repaid and the Llamas home by 5 runs.
A few more runs to defend would ease the nerves of the Llama supporters but it nonetheless makes for an entertaining game.
Finals day awaits