Hall and Dahl steer Llamas to imposing total

The Llamas made a winning start to their league campaign with a commanding 89 run victory over Esher.

The opposition inflicted 2 defeats on the Llamas last season on their way to a 4th place finish, but there was a degree of excitement around the ground as players and spectators alike waited to see whether the Llamas could carry forward the progress made in pre-season.

Sam Hall, playing as a specialist opening batsman, set the tone with a cultured 71 as the Llamas won the toss and batted on another good wicket at Park Lane. James Crosthwaite continued his solid early season form with 41 but it was Angus Dahl with a clinical 79 from 70 balls who, in partnership with Hall and then Ed Fluck (46*), took the game away from Esher. Wickets in hand proved crucial as 95 runs were plundered from the final 10 overs of the innings as the Llamas finished on 273/4.

To mount a serious challenge at this total Esher needed to get off to a good start, but this was thwarted by the opening bowling of Richard Stevens, stampeding down the hill from the Blue Anchor end and Andy Delmont, beguiling the opposition with his slow-medium swingers. They combined to take 5/70 from 20 overs and the job was pretty much done. Robin Lines and Will Hodgson on debut took their first Prem wickets and Michael Munday chipped in with 3 at the end with his array of loopy leg-spinners and long-hops. Esher were bowled out for 184 and the Llamas begin the season with 20 well-earned points.