Having been runner-up to Wimbledon in 2022 (by 3 points) and runner-up again last year in the 2024 season, this time to East Molesey; what would be our fate today as the 2025 season reaches its conclusion?

Going into the last game of the inaugural season of the Surrey Cricket Championship there were just 11 points separating the top 6 sides who could all mathematically win the Premiership title.

It’s been an extremely competitive division, with today’s opponents Sunbury, who won the 2023 title, sitting just one place above the relegation places and needing to keep in front of Esher (Home to Sutton) to avoid relegation; so a well motivated and strong Sunbury side were expected at Park Lane where Sunbury include young South African Stuart Van Der Merwe, who recently made his debut for Northants scoring 59 v Sussex in the One-Day Cup, and another South African youngster Caleb Falconer from Middlesex 2nd eleven and Oliver Pascall from the Surrey 2nd eleven.

The Llamas, have our own array of County experienced players in Richie, Michael Mundy, Ollie Sykes, James Taylor, Fraser Sheat and of course our Captain George Ealham, so there’s plenty of quality on show today in a game the Llamas need to win and hope top place Wimbledon lose (at home to mid table Spencer who are not one of the 6 teams who could win the title).

Today however we are without 3 regulars from the 1st team with Tom Massey getting married and Luke Haughton and Harry McInley in attendance, with Surrey players Ollie Sykes and James Taylor and (1st team league debut) Fin Willsher filling the gap.

Fraser Sheat

George Ealham won the toss and chose to field and opening bowlers Fraser Sheat and James Taylor set about the Sunbury top order and as soon as the 5th over Fraser Sheat disturbed Sunbury Captain Rajan Soni’s (6) off stump for 9-1. It was Fraser who also got the 2nd wicket having Stuart Van Der Merwe (7) caught at cover by Seth McDowall as Sunbury were 19-2 in the 7th over. In the same over Fraser got his 3rd wicket (10-0-34-3) this time hitting Oliver Pascall’s (4) middle stump to have Sunbury at 23-3.

James Taylor

Next to go was the dynamic Sam Burgess who has all too frequently scored quickly and heavily against the Llamas. His partner Caleb Falconer hit one back which bowler Dickie Stevens parried meaning Sam Burgess had to wait to see where the ball went before leaving his ground; however young Caleb, believing he was running to the danger end, called Sam Burgess for the single. The ball ended in the hands of George Ealham and batters (including Aussie Steve Smith) should beware as what frequently happens is a run-out and a direct hit from George back to the keeper’s end saw Sam Burgess (12) run out as Sunbury were in trouble at 42-4 in the 14th over.

Captain George (5-1-9-1) then dismissed Middlesex youngster Caleb Falconer (20) with the help of a fabulous catch by Fraser Sheat at deep long off as Sunbury lost their 5th wicket at 64-5 in the 21st over.

Surrey’s James Taylor then began to get his reward for a fine spell of fast bowling as bowling round the wicket he had the left handed Conor Fulton lbw for 3. From 69-6 it became 75-7 as James Taylor trapped Alex Hughes (2) back on the stumps for his 2nd lbw and then with the help of a lightning slip catch from his Surrey colleague Ollie Sykes, James got his 3rd wicket (10-2-25-3) dismissing Kevin Smith (2) to leave Sunbury on 81-8 as the inevitable wicket fell just after the drinks break.

Another of Sunbury’s South African youngsters, Colby Dyer, top scoring with 39, was providing a bit of resistance alongside Jack Greaves (10 no) but Michael Mundy (2-1-1-1) bowling just 2 overs in an innings dominated by the seamers, wasn’t going to be left out of the wickets as he had Colby Dyer caught by George Ealham for Sunbury’s 9th wicket to fall with their score now 106-9 in the 33rd over.

It was very appropriate that the final wicket fell to Dickie Stevens (7.2-0-35-1) as left handed Toby Gilby (0) saw his off stump disturbed to see the Sunbury innings end on 109 after only 35.2 of the allotted 50 overs. It was Dickie Stevens, playing his final league game, who led the Llamas off the field to the warm applause from both his Llama colleagues and the Llama supporters.

Dickie will be sorely missed not just as a terrific fast bowler and occasional match winner with the bat, but more importantly as one of those players who has provided the backbone of the team for many years and someone you’re happy to see as part of your team. I’m sure there will many people queuing up to thank this Priory legend for his many years as a mainstay in the Priory teams.

By the time (3.30) the Priory reply got underway, our fate had already been sealed as Wimbledon’s 114-2 in 19.4 overs (including 40 from James Crosswaite) had already passed Spencer’s 113 all out to guarantee Wimbledon the inaugural Surrey Cricket Championship title. Spencer, without both their Captain Jack Scrivens (brother of Bradley) and their overseas Troy Johnson and safe from relegation, provided little resistance to Wimbledon.

Richie Oliver opened the batting with Seth McDowall. Richie having a fine season without the Captaincy with over 700 league runs and 3 tons and 3 fifties and averaging 55, unfortunately was dismissed 1st ball as Kevin Smith (7-0-32-1) found Richie’s leg stump to give Sunbury an early lift in trying to defend their 109.

Seth McDowall

The current Captain George Ealham replaced previous Captain Richie and for a change proceeded to play a supporting role as Seth McDowall, laying claim to a regular 1st team opening slot, set about the Sunbury attack as with 9 fours and a six he raced past his 50 reaching 61 from just 53 balls before he was dismissed by Stuart Van Der Merwe (1-0-3-1) when he was caught in the deep going for another boundary as the Llamas lost their 2nd wicket with the score now 87-2 in only the 18th over.

George Ealham

Sunbury’s fate was almost sealed as Surrey’s Ollie Sykes joined George Ealham (with 3 tons and a fifty in a fantastic 1st season as 1st team Captain with 669 league runs at an average of 51.46). George’s 25 not out was somewhat overshadowed by Ollie’s cameo innings of 22 in just 9 balls. The Llamas entered the 19th over at 90-2 but the game was all over by the end of the over as Ollie thumped 3 sixes off Colby Dyer’s leg spin, the last one into the Blue Anchor garden to see the Llamas home at 110-2 after 19 overs for the 20 points which unfortunately, and in a case of Déjà-Vu to the 2022 finish, left us 3 points behind Champions Wimbledon in a season of what if’s & if only’s.

Ollie Sykes

Today’s opponents saw themselves relegated as they were leapfrogged by Esher who beat Sutton (another start of the day title contender and long time league leaders). With the talent in their team I’m sure they’ll bounce back just like Guildford, who were relegated at the end of the 2024 season and have been promoted (along with Normandy) to play in next season’s Premier Division.

Today also saw the end of Fraser Sheat’s 2 seasons as our overseas. Fraser joined as a fast bowler but with his 502 league runs with 5 fifties, his batting has been an integral part of the Llama middle order. Alongside his 27 wickets (including a match winning 7-29) at a miserly economy rate of 3.31, Fraser has been a brilliant all-rounder addition to the Llama family and he will always be welcome back to Llamaland.

Although we are obviously disappointed to have been runners-up (ALWAYS THE BRIDESMAID NEVER THE BRIDE !) we shouldn’t let this cloud what has been a wonderful summer of cricket with many close games against our friends and rivals and we look forward to next season and once again battle for the top spot.

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS
To illustrate how competitive the season has been the tighter games have been
Week 4 Away to Banstead Won 240-10 v 244-8 with 3 balls to spare
Week 6 Away to Esher Won 303-10 v 304-7 with 1 ball to spare
Week 12 Away to Ashtead Won262-9 v 189-10 with 8 balls to spare
Week 16 Away to Wimbledon Won 235-10 v 238-8 last ball win (FRASER 6 !)
Had we been on the wrong end of those results our season’s outcome may well have been very different.