Stag Outing Disappoints

After last week’s setback against Wimbledon, the Llama 2nd eleven visited the Ashtead “Stags” where Ashtead won the toss and chose to bat.
On a wicket offering little to no help for the bowlers, anything off line or length was sent to the boundary by Ashtead Opener Michael Sanderson who raced to 30 of the 1st 35 runs in the opening 6 overs. His opening colleague Rob Hendry eventually getting off the mark in the 7th over.
Opening bowlers Toby Briggs (6-0-29-0) and George Elliston (1st 2 overs) couldn’t make the breakthrough and next to try were Connor Newbold and Will Brewis. Will bowled a spell of 7 overs (0-37) but it was Connor who stemmed the flow of runs and with the score on 77, Connor (10-1-42-1) got the 1st wicket in the 14th over bowling Rob Hendry for 29.
The Llamas struggled to get a foothold in the game as Stags captain Tom Laudy and Michael Sanderson added a 50 partnership and at the halfway stage (25 overs) Ashtead were 126-1 and the Llamas looked like chasing 250+ where spending 3 hours ball chasing on a hot day would not be ideal preparation for a run chase later on.
Tom Laudy then hit the ball to Connor Newbold in the outfield and attempted a 2nd run on a misfield and we all know you shouldn’t run on a misfield. Connor’s throw was collected by Smudger who ran out his opposing captain for 31. Tom’s bat reached the pavilion before Tom and the Llamas were back in the game at 130-2 in the 27th over. Next over Harry McInley had an lbw against Dom Venn turned down but Dom Venn, with the ball still in play, then wandered out of his crease and Rory Haughton threw down the stumps for a bonus run out as Dom Venn departed for a single with Ashtead 136-3. Although Dom wasn’t attempting a run the wicket was a run out and would only have been a stumping had wicket keeper Jordan broken the stumps.
The Llamas were on a roll and in the next (29th) over with the score still on 136, Ant Ireland caught Michael Sanderson (59) from Will Irving’s bowling (6-1-34-1) for the 4th wicket. Will had plenty of variations including a ball that bounced twice. Michael Sanderson was on 30 after 6 overs but his next 29 runs came in 23 overs as the Llamas worked their way into the game.
Harry McInley then took a low return catch to dismiss Alex Culhane for 10 and after being 126-1 in the 25th over the Llamas had pegged Ashtead back to 154-5 in the 34th; helped along with some fine fielding with Harry McInley leading by example.
George Elliston returned for his 2nd spell and after a false alarm (not out) had Patrick Murray (23) caught behind by Jordan Bunyan. 192-6 in the 43rd over and with wickets (bang bang) often coming in pairs it became 193-7 in the 44th over when David Gent caught Aaron Rose (11) off Macca’s bowling who was following his excellent fielding display with an excellent bowling spell of 10-1-28-2.
George’s 2nd spell included another wicket (8-0-37-2) when with Jordan’s help again he dismissed Marcus Caprano-Wint for 13 and Ashtead were 211-8 in the 47th over. Just as George Elliston’s 2nd spell produced results so did Will Brewis (9.3-0-52-2) and Will mopped up the tail getting Senura Jayasinghe (4) caught by Rory Haughton and then Jake Martin (15) caught by Macca to have Ashtead all out for 229 with 3 balls of the allotted 50 overs left.
After 25 overs and 126-1 restricting Ashtead to the final total of 229 all out was a good effort, although the wide count of 22 was disappointing.
Ashtead opening bowlers Aaron Rose and left arm spinner Marcus Caprano-Wint were quickly to demonstrate that accuracy on a pitch offering little help was the key to keeping the Llamas in check and Jordan was out lbw for 2 to Aaron Rose (6-3-13-1) and after 9 overs the Llamas were just 10-1.
Rory Haughton, in good form with league knocks of 34no, 41no, 111 and 20, joined Jon Smith and it was Smudger (19) who was the 2nd wicket to fall when with the score on 44 in the 17th over he pulled a short ball to Aaron Rose to give Jake Martin his 1st wicket.
This was the start of spell of half a dozen overs which would see the Llamas virtually out of the game as Will Irving (6) was caught behind by Tom Laudy for Jake Martin’s 2nd wicket on 51-3 and that became 52-4 as Marcus Caprano-Wint (10-2-26-1) completed his accurate spell of spin bowling having Ant Ireland (1) lbw. No respite as Rory (26) was next to fall as he got an edge onto his thigh pad which then clipped the top of the bail before also being caught by the keeper; out bowled as bowled takes precedence and Jake Martin’s 3rd wicket left the Llamas on 60-5 in the 23rd over.
Still needing 170 at over a run a ball, David Gent and Harry McInley started to repair the damage and the pair put on a 50 partnership before Genty (35 from 44 deliveries) was caught by Michael Sanderson for Jake Martin’s 4th wicket and the Llamas were 112-6 in the 33rd over. Senura Jayasinghe then bowled George Elliston with the score still on 112. Will Brewis (1) was lbw for Jake Martin’s 5th wicket and 119-8.
A quick dozen from Toby Briggs before he was caught by Sam Hunt off the bowling of Senura Jayasinghe (9-0-41-2) for 135-9. Jake Martin then finished off the innings when he got his 6th wicket (10-0-41-6) bowling Connor (1) and the Llamas were all out for 142 (87 runs short) after 39 overs.
Harry McInley finished on 35 n.o. from 46 deliveries with a 6 and three 4’s; to round off a fine all round performance following his fielding, catching (2) and bowling (2 wickets).
The Llamas drop to 4th place but the points deficit didn’t grow as previous table toppers Esher and Wimbledon also both lost; however this was the 2nd week where we only managed to bat for about 40 overs (today 39, last week 40.1) so we need to return to the early season batting form if we are to be serious title contenders.