Llamas keep title challenge alive with win against top of table Wimbledon

Skipper Richie Oliver won the toss and chose to bowl first, figuring that any assistance for the seamers would be early in the game. The decision was instantly rewarded as Richard Stevens dismissed Wimbledon’s Kiwi important Jack Boyle for a duck, well caught by ‘keeper James Crosthwaite

Wimbledon survived several other near misses against the opening attack of Stevens and Tom Massey, but eventually settled in and progressed to 71/1 from 12 overs. The introduction of leg-spinners Angus Dahl and Michael Munday turned the game in the Llamas’ favour as the pair took the next 6 wickets to fall in a Wimbledon collapse to 110/7. Dahl was particularly impressive in his spell of 3/29 from 10 overs while Munday picked up his 45th wicket of the season in taking 3/32. Massey returned to the attack to pick up the last 3 wickets as Wimbledon were bowled out for a below par 161. Again Reigate’s fielding was clinical as Crosthwaite took 4 catches behind the stumps and there were good outfield catches for Sam Hall and Andy Delmont.

Hall opened the batting following his match-winning 82 in the fixture earlier in the season at Wimbledon. Together with skipper Oliver, the pair put on 97 for the 1st wicket in 14 overs to virtually win the match. The wicket of Hall did little to slow the progress of the Llamas towards the winning line as Crosthwaite (32*) and Oliver comfortably knocked off the remaining runs in the 26th over. Oliver’s 86* from 94 balls represented a welcome return to form moving into the conclusion of the season.

Defeat for Wimbledon sees them fall to second place in the table as now East Molesey lead the pack. Next weekend sees Reigate travel to East Molesey and victory for the Llamas would take the title race down to the last game of the season.