Playing Cricket with the Neighbours

Friday evening was the turn of the 'children' (Reigate Rapids Under 19’s to be more accurate) to go out to play in the Park (Lane) where they played the Banstead Rams (97 all out) and came out winners (99-3).

Saturday was the turn of the adults as Banstead were once again the visitors who would be looking to reverse the result from earlier in the season when George Ealham’s 106 no won the day for the Llamas. Today was the last of the timed games before the remaining games of the season return to limited overs.

George won the toss and invited Banstead to bat and openers, veteran Neil Baker and youngster Ayush Patel, started cautiously with both opening bowlers frequently beating the bat. Surrey seamer James Taylor’s figures of 11-3-34-0 were scant reward for his efforts but it was 1st change bowler Dickie Stevens (8-2-17-1) who got the 1st wicket when a fine catch from Tommy Ealham running round the boundary and finishing with a dive, saw the end of Ayush Patel (23) and Banstead’s 1st wicket fell with the score 51-1 in the 17th over.

Arjun Gill (13) then fell to another excellent catch, this time from Ollie Sykes diving low to his right in the slips, as Banstead lost their 2nd wicket and were 84-2 in the 31st over as the run rate remained below 3 runs an over and rarely got above that throughout their innings. No runs added and in the same over England Under 19 Ralphie Albert (& Google says he’s the grandson of Snooker legend Jimmy White) was double 'Frasered' as Fraser Sheat had Ralphie caught behind by Fraser McGuiness with Banstead now 84-3.

Opener Neil Baker had meanwhile passed a very patient 50, which was to prove to be a vital contribution to Banstead’s cause, when Richie Oliver took a sharp slip catch from Tommy Ealham’s bowling to have Banstead at 98-4 in the 40th over. Two overs later Harri Arivinthan (5) was double 'Tommied' as he fell to yet another excellent catch, this time by Tommy Bates to give Tommy Ealham his 2nd wicket (11-3-26-2). Unfortunately the catching standard wasn’t excellent throughout the innings as a few chances were spilled but with Banstead now 101-5 in the 42nd over the spilled chances didn’t seem to making too much difference.

Ben Butterfield cracked 3 fours in his 18 before Tommy Bates (4-1-10-1) got him to dolly up a catch to Ollie Sykes for 133-6 in the 48th over. Next over this became 135-7 as another Ollie Sykes catch (his 3rd) dismissed Alfie Haxton (17) to give Michael Munday his 1st wicket. Captain Arsalan Abbas (1) was Michael’s next victim when he was caught by another boundary catch by Tommy Ealham and the Llamas were on top as Banstead’s 8th wicket fell (143-8 in the 53rd over). With no addition to the score Michael (8-0-37-3) bowled Paul Byrne to get his 3rd wicket.

Alex Dodson (25no) held up the Llamas before Fraser Sheat ended an excellent bowling day (13.5-5-32-3) bowling Tyler Meyer (12) to end the Banstead innings in the 60th over on 175.

At his stage the Llamas had 59 overs to reach 176 and with a side including 3 Surrey contracted players in Ollie Sykes, James Taylor and Tommy Ealham; the Llamas would have been confident in reaching their target. This confidence looked well placed as openers Richie Oliver and Ollie Sykes set about the Llama reply, both hitting sixes with one from Ollie landing in the Blue Anchor; as Reigate raced to 39 in the 6th over when Richie (18) gave Neil Baker, at short extra, a catch off the bowling of Paul Byrne.

Fellow opener Ollie Sykes (24) was caught behind by Alex Dodson off Harri Aravinthan (8-0-31-1) as the Llamas 2nd wicket fell to leave them 49-2. Tommy Bates and skipper George Ealham steadied the ship and with a healthy run rate took the score onto 93 in the 22nd over when Tommy Bates (31) was caught by Arsalan Abbas at slip to give Tyler Meyer his 1st wicket. This was soon 94-4 as Harry McInley was bowled by Paul Byrne and the Llama wobble continued as Paul Byrne had Fraser Sheat lbw as the 5th wicket fell with the score now 96-5 in the 25th over.

Plenty of overs left (34) to score 80 runs but with half the side already dismissed Banstead were in with a chance and their chances grew when with the score on 127 James Taylor (17) became the 6th wicket to fall when he popped one up for keeper Alex Dodson to take to give Paul Byrne another wicket (22-2-68-4). The Llama reply was now in the hands of the Ealham brothers but Tyler Meyer then had Tommy Ealham (6) caught at 1st slip by Arsalan Abbas and the Llamas were now 140-7 in the 40th over.

Dickie Stevens joined skipper George Ealham and the Llamas slowly inched their way towards the target as they took the score to 156 when Dickie (8) was caught at point by Ralphie Albert for Tyler Meyer’s 3rd wicket (16-2-40-3). The Llamas hopes were fading and then largely disappeared as George Ealham (48) was dismissed just short of his 50 when he was bowled by the opposition Captain Arsalan Abbas and it was Arsalan (4-3-2-2) who wrapped things up bowling Michael Mundy as the Llamas were all out for 158 in the 53rd over.

Just the 4 points sees the Llamas still in 4th place, where they started the day, but with daylight now appearing to the top three and with the mid table pack closing in on the Llamas it only goes to confirm JB’s programme notes “ in a confusing season where everybody appears able to beat everyone else”. There was no throwing the toys out the pram or stopping the game as it was our Bat and Ball but it was a missed opportunity to make inroads towards the top as 2nd place Wimbledon beat top of the table Sutton to swap places.

The 175 was a common target today as was playing matches against our neighbours where our 2nd eleven (in 4th place) were playing at neighbours Horley (in top spot). The 2nd eleven had more success than the 1st eleven and chased down Horley’s 175 all out with 179-7 to move up to 3rd place just 3 points away from top spot and next week’s home game against London Gymkhana.

More photos here