2nd XI
Matches
Sat 31 Aug 2019  ·  Premier Division - 2nd XI
Weybridge CC - 2nd XI
184
214/8
Reigate Priory Cricket Club
2nd XI
Weybridge CC 2nd’s v Reigate Priory CC 2nd’s

Weybridge CC 2nd’s v Reigate Priory CC 2nd’s

Jonathan Gale2 Sep 2019 - 18:33
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Priory 2's win another tight one!

The penultimate league game of the season took us to 3rd placed Weybridge, and with top spot out of reach to both teams the game could have been played like a Sunday friendly; but invariably games between the sides are close and this fixture was to be no different.

Weybridge won the toss and decided to bowl

Ashwin Bhat & Jordan Bunyan opened & after a cautious start -23 for 0 after 10 overs- they gave the Llamas the kind of opening stand we’ve not seen too frequently this season and took us to 70-0 after 24 overs. The pair then began to accelerate the run rate with Ashwin’s 50 coming in the 26th over, before Jordan (38) was bowled by Omkar Khot; who had played all his previous league games this season in the Weybridge 3rd team. A fine opening stand ending with the score at 91-1 in the 27th over.

A rare failure from Lofty (6), lbw to be Omkar Khot’s 2nd victim at 99-2, brought U16 Jacob McLoughlin to join Ashwin and they put on 40 with Jacob’s contribution of 17 almost matching Ashwin. Jacob became Omkar Khot’s 3rd wicket when he was caught at wide mid-on & the Llamas were now 139-3 in the 37th over. The Llamas were pegged back soon after when Ashwin Bhat was caught behind for 70 (including 10 fours) and the Llamas were now 141-4 in the 38th over.

After last week’s 60 n.o.it wasn’t to be Jonny Flanders day today as he was bowled for 3 to be Omkar Khot’s 4th wicket (10-0-32-4) and the Llamas were now 5 down for 154. Henry Tye pushed the score along at about a run a ball before Henry (21) was caught at deep mid-on and with the Llamas on 168-6 in the 45th over they needed to make the most of the last few overs.

U17 Will Hodgson joined over 17 Galer and Galer’s innings of 19 at almost a run a ball ended when he was run out on 183-7. Will Hodgson continued and with Toby Briggs (2) caught at deep mid-on at 197-8, Will was joined by Ollie Thilo (3 n.o.) and Will pressed on & his 25 (from 16 balls including a 4 and a 6) helped the Llamas to get 44 runs from the last 4 overs to finish our allotted 50 overs on 214-8.

Toby Briggs and Will Hodgson opened the bowling & it was Will who got the 1st wicket in the 4th over with the score on 11 when he had Sam Burnley lbw. In the next over Toby Briggs struck twice, firstly getting the division’s leading run scorer Tim Cross (5) caught by Will Hodgson and then bowling Nayeem Afridi with a ball that came back and Weybridge were 19-3 after 5 overs. Things didn’t improve for Weybridge when Will got his 2nd wicket (5-1-14-2) when opposition captain Alastair Stanley played on to leave Weybridge 24-4 in the 8th over.

The forecast rain duly arrived in the 11th over and the players went off and the covers came on. After a 20 minute delay, with no overs lost thanks to the “Golden ½ hour”; the covers came off and the players went back on at which time the Llamas lost all focus as 60 runs came from overs 11 to 17 as Weybridge took control.

Ollie Simms broke the partnership in the 18th over bowling Chris Jarvis (53) and 107-5 soon became 109-6 when Ollie had Jordan McKinley (29) well caught behind by Ashwin. Ollie again (10-0-48-3) in the 26th over then got Chris Smith (9) lbw and Weybridge were 128-7.
Weybridge needed 87 to win with 3 wickets and 23 overs left. Weybridge’s superior run rate would easily see them home so the Llamas had to bowl them out.

Henry Tye bowled in tandem with Ollie Simms and Henry put the brakes on from one end bowling his 10 overs for 27 runs and it was Henry that made the breakthrough in the 33rd over getting Adam Dean (23) caught behind by Ashwin Bhat to see Weybridge on 158-8.

But Weybridge were not done and their tail was wagging with Omkar Khot (17 n.o.) & George Whatling (14) getting Weybridge ever closer. A couple of dropped chances from the usually safe hands of Jordan (on 181-8) and Lofty (on 182-8) could have proved costly but only 2 runs later Toby (9.3-0-34-4) had George Whatling lbw for 184-9 and then had Nick Kent off balance to be smartly stumped by Ashwin to close the Weybridge innings on 184 with 8 overs remaining. The Llamas are up to 4th spot just a point behind 3rd place Weybridge.

Man of the Match-Toby is usually in the frame with his 26 league wickets putting him 3rd in the division; but the honours this week go to Ashwin Bhat who faced the 1st ball and went on to get 70 and then took 2 catches and finished the game with a stumping.

Winning the last 2 games has rescued the season that a couple of weeks ago was in danger of petering out. Another feature is the recent contribution from the younger members with Jonny Flanders 60 n.o. last week being followed up with Jacob McLoughlin batting at 4 and looking the part and with Will Hodgson continuing to impress. Ollie Simms continues to get wickets and it was also pleasing to see the return from injury of Ollie Thilo who was gently getting back to action with 3 overs off a shorter run up.

Our last (all ticket ?) game of the league season is at Park Lane against top of the table Wimbledon who have 260 points just 5 points ahead of 2nd placed Spencer, who beat the table toppers by 1 wicket having recovered from 119-9 to win at 174-9. From what seemed an uncatchable position; Wimbledon have lost their last 3 games - so no doubt they will bring a strong side to Park Lane in their bid to make it a hat-trick of titles.

Match details

Match date

Sat 31 Aug 2019

Kickoff

12:00

Competition

Premier Division - 2nd XI
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Youth section sponsor - Savills
Proud Supporter - Aerotron
Club sponsor - Newmans Solicitors