2s Get One Over ‘Bridge

The build up to this game was all about the weather - even Hutch asked to play the rain card on the Thursday evening.

Come Saturday the morning was showery, the lunchtime meet saw drizzle in the air, three weather apps said it was going to rain all afternoon - one said it wouldn’t. What would Brickers’ phone say?

Miraculously, only one of the weather apps was right and the match was played in dry conditions. The outfield had taken a beating from the torrential rains on Thursday.

Weybridge won the toss and, surprisingly, close to bat first on the relaid pitch. Despite a wayward first over, Hutch (2-27) was getting the ball to nip around under the overcast conditions. Briggsy at the other end was first to strike, with Harry McInley taking an audacious one handed catch high above him. Hutch then got in on the act with Sakes taking a good catch at second slip. A second soon followed for Hutch as he got one to come back sharply and rattle the timbers. A drop in the slips off Briggsy (3-30), in an over that went for 9, proved to be not so costly as the next over he got one through the gate of batsman’s extravagant drive. Two balls later, Smudge took a great catch at mid off and 51-3 turned into 54–5.

Will Brewis replaced Hutch at the Blue Anchor End and despite not taking a wicket was excellent, conceding just 12 runs from his 6 over spell. Connor (2-19) took over from Briggsy, and despite a couple of rusty deliveries was soon into his stride. A chance fell desperately in between 3 fielders at square leg, but it wasn’t long before hd got his man - caught by that man Smudge at mid off. Smudge completed his hattrick with a good catch over his shoulder to cap an excellent fielding display from the Llama skipper.

Harry, a late replacement for 1s bound Flanders, was soon twirling away and was constantly frustrated with the rather unconventional innings from Weybridge‘s Howard. Two wickets were his reward however, and Swirve came on to burgle another wicket.

124 all out, and the Llamas knew they were in with a good shout of maximum points.

The 2s had welcomed Rory back from the 1s, and he soon hit his stride. Smudge at the other end was looking solid too. The pair soon raced to a 50 opening partnership in only the 9th over. Smudge (21) was the first to go, as he kicked a straight one from Lodhi, and then Rory (33) missed a straight one from the same bowler. 63-2 and almost the same position as the lads were last week, with Ash not out at the non-strikers end...

Sakes managed to negotiate the first ball and then set his stall to bat for time. The pair batted very patiently, with only 5 boundaries between them along with a maximum from Saker over the new sightscreens. Another 50 partnership was reached, as the Llamas could sniff the finishing line.

With 8 to win, Sakes (35) felt it could done in two hits. Unfortunately the first hit found the fielder at deep midwicket. This brought Henry to the crease, knowing he was under pressure from friends in the crowd. Nervously he scratched around, knowing a red inker would help. With just one to win, the field was up and in the ring. Henry tried a couple of times to pierce the infield. It wasn’t until a small misfiled let Henry through and 20 points stayed at Llamaland. At the other end, Ash remained unbeaten on 27.

So with three games to go, the 2s are top of the table. They visit second placed Wimbledon on Saturday, knowing that victory is needed to move further ahead.