Hat-Trick Hero McLoughlin Breaks Normandy's Resolve

Reigate travelled to Normandy in round 12 of the Surrey Championship season sitting 5th in the table, the hosts just 4pts behind in 6th place.
The Frenchmen won the toss and invited the Llamas to have a bat first on what looked a dry, hard surface with a tinge of green.
Openers Richard Oliver (46) and Luke Haughton (19) got the visitors off to a flying start with a stand of 79 in just 13 overs before Oval Invincibles spinner Nathan Sowter removed Oliver to stem the flow of runs.
Haughton and Seth McDowall (12) soon followed to leave the visitors teetering at 98-3, but rearguard action from Alex Ross (25) and Sam Hall (35) kept the bowlers at bay til tea with the score ticking past 150.
Following the break, Normandy struck twice again to remove the set batters, and it was over to Angus Dahl (47) and Richard Stevens (20) to keep the Llamas on track.
Some late aggression from Tom Massey (26) and number 11 Robin Lines (14*) propelled Reigate to a competitive total of 285ao in 63 overs, leaving the Normans 57 overs to reach the target, Sowter the pick of the bowlers with 6-92.
The second innings got underway with the intimidating Stevens removing opener Calcott and the dangerous no3 Chris Jones cheaply, with some sharp catching in the slips from Ross and Dahl.
Overseas player Joel Foster got the scoreboard moving past 50 with a quickfire 30, but the introduction of Jacob McLoughlin into the attack soon put paid to any hopes of a home victory. Fresh from 4 wickets the week before against Ashtead, 19yr old McLoughlin ripped through the middle order to finish with figures of 4-20 from his impressive age restricted 7 over spell - including a hat-trick.
Tom Massey provided good support from the other end throughout and was rewarded with 2 wickets, including a spectacular left handed catch by Ross in the gully. The formalities were completed with Angus Dahl picking up the final two Normandy batters to leave the hosts 114ao in 29 overs.
Reigate deserving winners picking up 24pts and climbing to 4th in the table - within a game of top spot as the race for the title heats up.
The Llamas host relegation threatened Malden Wanderers at home next Saturday in the final game of red ball cricket, before 5x 50over games round out the season.