Llamas RKO Ashtead

Fielding first under blue skies, the Llamas did well to contain Ashtead to 205/9 from 50 overs. All the bowlers performed well, with the wickets shared between Angus Dahl with 3 and Robin Lines, Richard Stevens and Michael Munday with 2 each.

Chasing a score of over 200 could have been a tough task, but the opening partnership of Richie Oliver and Sam Hall made a mockery of this as they made hay in the May sunshine. Sam backed up his 71 against Esher the previous week, with another assured innings of 75. Meanwhile Richie caressed his way to 118 not out, his 9th league hundred for the Llamas.

The pair put on exactly 200, before Sam was dismissed in the 35th over. This was our highest opening partnership since Chris Murtagh and Andy Delmont put on 228* against Leatherhead in 2014.

Knocking off the remaining 6 runs was a formality as the Llamas cruised to victory and maintained their winning start to the season.

Richard Spiller in the Oval newsletter

There are few more destructive players in the Premier Division than Priory skipper Richie Oliver. The left-hander’s ability to ruin the best laid plans of bowlers and captains were amply demonstrated by his unbeaten run a ball 118 which shredded Ashtead.
Beaten by Weybridge in the opening round, the hosts battled their way to 205-9 from 50, owing much to South African Matthew Breetzke’s 87 from 85 deliveries which included 13 boundaries. Next best was Tom Homes’s 21 down the order, given Surrey youngster Ben Geddes fell early on for 12. Angus Dahl’s 3-53 was augmented by two wickets apiece for Robin Lines, Richard Stevens and Michael Munday.
Former Worcestershire opener Oliver’s 119, aided by 75 from Sam Hall, soon proved that total was inadequate, stroking 19 fours and a six, the opening alliance worth 200 in 34.1 overs and victory arriving seven balls later