Stevo Stuns Sunbury

Paul Bridge writes...

A backs to the wall display of batting by Reigate Priory’s numbers nine, 10 and 11 transformed the Llamas fortunes from a score of 83-8 to 156-9 as the Priory edged past last year’s Surrey champions Sunbury by one wicket in a tense finish on Saturday at Reigate’s Park Lane ground.
Skipper Luke Beaven, at number nine, was joined at 83-8 by number 10 bat Richard Stevens and in a resolute partnership the pair put on 50 runs in 16 overs before Beaven was brilliantly caught and bowled by Kevin Smith for 25.
This brought number 11 batsman Will Hodson to the crease, who in 17 games last year managed an average of only 2.33 each innings. The crowd roared and cheered for every run Hodson and Stevens scored as this pair put on the 23 runs needed for victory in eight overs.
Stevens ended on 37 not out from 76 balls, his highest score for the Priory in this his 89th game in the 1st XI. Hodson finished on 10 not out.
Sunbury had won the toss and batted first. A combination of good Priory bowling and cloudy overhead conditions that helped the ball swing saw the visitors floundering at 76-6 after 30 overs, pacemen Delmont, Hodson & Stevens sharing the wickets.
But the Sunbury tailenders in 18 overs transformed the total from 89-7 to 155-9 before their 50 overs were up.
That total never seemed enough until at 38-1, the Priory found themselves at sixes and sevens against the off break bowling of Sunbury’s Amar Virdi who also plays for England Under 19’s and Surrey 2nds. Very quickly that 38-1 turned into 69-6 as four batsman fell to Virdi’s wizardry, three leg before wicket and one caught behind, for only five runs between them.
Richie Oliver batting at number three had been a mainstay scoring 34 off 39 balls before he was bowled at 89-7. With the game looking now to be Sunbury’s for the taking Reigate’s three tailenders showed otherwise.
The win puts the Priory in 5th place in the table, within striking distance of the leaders, while Sunbury with three losses from three games played now lies in the relegation zone.