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Sat 03 Jul 2021 · Premier Division - 2nd XI
2nd XIEsher CC - 2nd XI
148/8
147/7
It’s Coming Home Thanks To Harry
Reigate Priory Cricket Club4 Jul 2021 - 08:37
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Report by Dick Belcher
No I don’t mean Harry Kane or even Harry Maguire but our very own Harry McInley
A bit early to say it’s coming home of course but the 2’s got back on track when they took on visitors Esher on Saturday.
3 changes from last week’s battling draw away at leaders East Molesey where East Molesey 1st teamer Andrew Westphal took 6 of the Llama 2nd team wickets (this week he took 5 of the Llamas 1st team wickets), saw Olly Massey and Luke Sheridan up from last week’s 3rd eleven plus a returning Will Irving
Still in Wimbledon fortnight so naturally rain played a part and a delayed start at 1.15 and a reduced tea break allowed for an 84 over minimum. Memo for later...the playing conditions say the finishing time is the later of when the maximum number of overs have been bowled or 6.50pm.
Enough of the introduction as the game started with Harry McInley winning the toss and inserting Esher for a maximum 46 of the 84 overs minimum.
The eventual result was set up by the opening bowlers Toby Briggs, Will Brewis and Olly Massey. Toby set the standard when in his 2nd over an unplayable ball bowled Andrew McCallum (4) for the 1st wicket to fall 7-1. Toby went on to bowl a single spell with impressive figures of 13-2-38-1.
Equally impressive was Will Brewis who reminded us what a fine bowler he already is with an opening spell of 7-4-6-1 returning later for 2 more overs to finish on 9-4-11-1 getting his wicket in the 8th over when Will Irving took the catch in the gully to dismiss Ben Collins (4) and after 8 overs Esher were 11-2.
Olly Massey wasn’t going to be left out and he found the edge for keeper Ashwin Bhat to take a sharp chance to dismiss U15 Krish Patel (11) and Esher were 39-3 in the 18th over. After 30 overs, Toby, Will and Olly had finished their spells and Esher were only 71-2.
Esher’s U18 Anosh Malik had reached 39 when Connor Newbold (8-0-33-1) had him caught by Will Brewis for 74-4. Fellow spinner and Captain Harry McInley then had Jo De La Fuente (17) caught by Advaith Bali at deep square leg and at 82-5 the Esher innings was in the need of some repair which duly arrived in the form of wicket keeper Matt Macpherson (29 no) and Jack Slaney who looked like he might repeat last year’s 59 off 62 balls before Harry McInley bowled him for 33 at 141-6 in the final 46th over. Harry then had Jack Fletcher (U19) caught by David Gent and the Esher innings finished at 147-7 with Captain Harry McInley finishing on 8-0-44-3 continuing his consistent form.
With the sun making an occasional appearance the batting conditions were beginning to improve as David Gent and Ashwin Bhat began the Llama reply in their chase of 148 from a minimum 38 overs ....not forgetting a 6.50pm finish if later.
Ashwin Bhat (10) skied a catch to mid wicket to be dismissed by Jo De La Fuente with the score on 32-1 in the 12th over. A brief stay from Henry Tye (11) as he was caught at deep square leg from the left arm spin bowling of Esher captain Dan Taylor and the Llamas were 48-2. Next in Advaith Bali (2) was trapped lbw right back on his stumps for Dan Taylor’s 2nd wicket at 52-3 and Dan then bowled David Gent whose 29 was providing the core of the Llama reply and after 23 overs Reigate were 53-4 with a minimum of 15 overs left to score a further (about a run a ball) 95.
The task was given to Will Irving and Luke Sheridan and the acceleration began as Irv hit 5 fours and 2 sixes in his 48 from 44 deliveries before he fell in the 34th over with the score on 126 to be the 5th wicket to fall when he was out to a one handed reaction return catch to bowler Tom Brown (5-1-22-1). Not for the 1st time this season has it taken a good catch to dismiss Will, this time just 2 short of a deserved 50. The pair had put on 73 but with the score still on 126 the 6th wicket fell as Luke (25) was bowled by Joe De La Fuente (13-3-31-2).
With the score on 127 at the end of the 35th over and 21 still needed from a minimum of 3 overs left; captain Harry McInley was joined by Will Brewis (5) but Will’s stay was brief as in the 38th over he was bowled to be Dan Taylor’s 4th wicket and at 135-7 it was anyone’s game. Dan Taylor then took his 5th wicket getting Toby lbw (10.5-2-43-5) and the Llamas were still 13 runs short of their target on 135-8 after the minimum 38 overs had been bowled. Had the game finished at that point the Llamas would have got a winning draw.
But the clock hadn’t reached 6.50 and a couple more overs were available and any slowing down of the overs by Esher (we would probably have done the same) was no longer in their best interest as they only needed 2 more wickets.
But just as Esher’s captain Dan Taylor’s 5 wickets in an excellent spell of left arm spin bowling had given his team a good chance of winning; it was time for Connor Newbold to join the Llamas captain Harry McInley. Last season Connor was Esher’s nemesis as his 69 n.o. along with Ashwin’s 58 n.o. saw the Llamas recover from 77-9 with an unbroken 10th wicket stand of 135 to win the game. This time Connor’s contribution was no less important with 6 n.o. from 6 balls; but with the clock now on 6.50pm it was captain Harry who brought us home as he hit a four with just 1 ball remaining to win the game at 148-8 and the 24 points that take the Llamas back up to 2nd spot; a place shared I think by the Llama 3rd, 4th and 5th teams in their respective divisions.
This was yet another example of the timed cricket providing a nail biting finish and for the 2nd season running the Llamas won a tight game against Esher where very little divided the two teams.
Once again an all round team performance as all 5 bowlers took at least a wicket and while no batsman has dominated this season, each week someone steps up to the plate and it was Will Irving’s turn this week with his 48.
A bit early to say it’s coming home of course but the 2’s got back on track when they took on visitors Esher on Saturday.
3 changes from last week’s battling draw away at leaders East Molesey where East Molesey 1st teamer Andrew Westphal took 6 of the Llama 2nd team wickets (this week he took 5 of the Llamas 1st team wickets), saw Olly Massey and Luke Sheridan up from last week’s 3rd eleven plus a returning Will Irving
Still in Wimbledon fortnight so naturally rain played a part and a delayed start at 1.15 and a reduced tea break allowed for an 84 over minimum. Memo for later...the playing conditions say the finishing time is the later of when the maximum number of overs have been bowled or 6.50pm.
Enough of the introduction as the game started with Harry McInley winning the toss and inserting Esher for a maximum 46 of the 84 overs minimum.
The eventual result was set up by the opening bowlers Toby Briggs, Will Brewis and Olly Massey. Toby set the standard when in his 2nd over an unplayable ball bowled Andrew McCallum (4) for the 1st wicket to fall 7-1. Toby went on to bowl a single spell with impressive figures of 13-2-38-1.
Equally impressive was Will Brewis who reminded us what a fine bowler he already is with an opening spell of 7-4-6-1 returning later for 2 more overs to finish on 9-4-11-1 getting his wicket in the 8th over when Will Irving took the catch in the gully to dismiss Ben Collins (4) and after 8 overs Esher were 11-2.
Olly Massey wasn’t going to be left out and he found the edge for keeper Ashwin Bhat to take a sharp chance to dismiss U15 Krish Patel (11) and Esher were 39-3 in the 18th over. After 30 overs, Toby, Will and Olly had finished their spells and Esher were only 71-2.
Esher’s U18 Anosh Malik had reached 39 when Connor Newbold (8-0-33-1) had him caught by Will Brewis for 74-4. Fellow spinner and Captain Harry McInley then had Jo De La Fuente (17) caught by Advaith Bali at deep square leg and at 82-5 the Esher innings was in the need of some repair which duly arrived in the form of wicket keeper Matt Macpherson (29 no) and Jack Slaney who looked like he might repeat last year’s 59 off 62 balls before Harry McInley bowled him for 33 at 141-6 in the final 46th over. Harry then had Jack Fletcher (U19) caught by David Gent and the Esher innings finished at 147-7 with Captain Harry McInley finishing on 8-0-44-3 continuing his consistent form.
With the sun making an occasional appearance the batting conditions were beginning to improve as David Gent and Ashwin Bhat began the Llama reply in their chase of 148 from a minimum 38 overs ....not forgetting a 6.50pm finish if later.
Ashwin Bhat (10) skied a catch to mid wicket to be dismissed by Jo De La Fuente with the score on 32-1 in the 12th over. A brief stay from Henry Tye (11) as he was caught at deep square leg from the left arm spin bowling of Esher captain Dan Taylor and the Llamas were 48-2. Next in Advaith Bali (2) was trapped lbw right back on his stumps for Dan Taylor’s 2nd wicket at 52-3 and Dan then bowled David Gent whose 29 was providing the core of the Llama reply and after 23 overs Reigate were 53-4 with a minimum of 15 overs left to score a further (about a run a ball) 95.
The task was given to Will Irving and Luke Sheridan and the acceleration began as Irv hit 5 fours and 2 sixes in his 48 from 44 deliveries before he fell in the 34th over with the score on 126 to be the 5th wicket to fall when he was out to a one handed reaction return catch to bowler Tom Brown (5-1-22-1). Not for the 1st time this season has it taken a good catch to dismiss Will, this time just 2 short of a deserved 50. The pair had put on 73 but with the score still on 126 the 6th wicket fell as Luke (25) was bowled by Joe De La Fuente (13-3-31-2).
With the score on 127 at the end of the 35th over and 21 still needed from a minimum of 3 overs left; captain Harry McInley was joined by Will Brewis (5) but Will’s stay was brief as in the 38th over he was bowled to be Dan Taylor’s 4th wicket and at 135-7 it was anyone’s game. Dan Taylor then took his 5th wicket getting Toby lbw (10.5-2-43-5) and the Llamas were still 13 runs short of their target on 135-8 after the minimum 38 overs had been bowled. Had the game finished at that point the Llamas would have got a winning draw.
But the clock hadn’t reached 6.50 and a couple more overs were available and any slowing down of the overs by Esher (we would probably have done the same) was no longer in their best interest as they only needed 2 more wickets.
But just as Esher’s captain Dan Taylor’s 5 wickets in an excellent spell of left arm spin bowling had given his team a good chance of winning; it was time for Connor Newbold to join the Llamas captain Harry McInley. Last season Connor was Esher’s nemesis as his 69 n.o. along with Ashwin’s 58 n.o. saw the Llamas recover from 77-9 with an unbroken 10th wicket stand of 135 to win the game. This time Connor’s contribution was no less important with 6 n.o. from 6 balls; but with the clock now on 6.50pm it was captain Harry who brought us home as he hit a four with just 1 ball remaining to win the game at 148-8 and the 24 points that take the Llamas back up to 2nd spot; a place shared I think by the Llama 3rd, 4th and 5th teams in their respective divisions.
This was yet another example of the timed cricket providing a nail biting finish and for the 2nd season running the Llamas won a tight game against Esher where very little divided the two teams.
Once again an all round team performance as all 5 bowlers took at least a wicket and while no batsman has dominated this season, each week someone steps up to the plate and it was Will Irving’s turn this week with his 48.
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