3rd XI
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Sat 13 Jul 2019  ·  Premier Division - 3rd XI
Reigate Priory Cricket Club
3rd XI
80/3
79
Banstead CC - 3rd XI
Strugglers Banstead crushed again

Strugglers Banstead crushed again

Antony Ireland18 Jul 2019 - 20:35
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https://www.reigatepriorycc.co

By Nick Rotsey

Reigate Priory 3s turn up on a sunny afternoon to play Banstead, confident of building on the win last week against a side they bowled out for 39 in the opening match of the season. Skipper Ireland duly won the toss (though it must be said that no one was sure which person had won the toss with both captains looking identical out in the middle and even walking back to the pavilion swinging their arms perfectly in motion we started to wonder if Ant had a brother he’d never mentioned before…) and inserted Banstead.

The reliable Brickers opened the bowling with young Jacob McLoughlin and immediately put the pressure onto the Banstead openers with precious little width on offer. Eventually the pressure told as Pratt, injudiciously, slashed at one from Brickers to be held quite brilliantly by Jacob, one handed, at backward point. Brickers struck again with his next ball and was unfortunate not to have a hat-trick but didn’t have to wait long for his third wicket, Banstead’s nos 3 and 4 both registering ducks. McLoughlin bowled extremely well and was unlucky not to pick up any wickets in his opening spell.

Banstead then put on a good partnership, seeing off the new ball, surpassing their previous total against us and looking like they might post a reasonable total on a pitch with a little variable bounce from the top end. Manoj had a trundle and while tidy, never really threatened to take a wicket and spinner Abhijit was finding his range from the other end.

The next wicket to fall came from a run out - that man McLoughlin in the action again doing his best Jonny Bairstow impression, running out the opener going for a suicidal second run. This opened the floodgates as Abhijit went on to take three wickets in an over, including two in two balls, but was unable to complete the hat-trick.

Will Brewis was introduce from the lane end and immediately made the batsmen uncomfortable and with partners running out, Banstead’s last remaining ‘batsman’ tried to reverse scoop Brewis over third man. The ball flew off the inside edge to backward square leg where Srikanth surprised everyone by sticking out one hand and the ball magically landing in it for the second stunning catch of the day.

The innings was quickly rapped up with another wicket for Brewis and Banstead were all out for 79 in 30 overs. Extras scored 4 and that was more than 6 of Banstead’s batsmen managed, with 5 ducks in their innings.

Given the low target there was a discussion about whether to let the youngsters open the batting or to just blast it with some of the senior players. In the end, we opened with Bunyan and Rotsey with the youngsters following. The Reigate openers got off to a solid start against a bowler who opened the bowling for Banstead 2s against Reigate earlier in the season, however, there were too many loose balls to really apply pressure on the batsmen. The first wicket fell with the score on 32 with Bunyan nicking a decent leg cutter behind.

Rotsey at the other end, rode his luck a little to blast 30 before a change in bowling saw a pie chucking leggie brought into the attack. Rotsey had a look at the new bowler and decided with his first delivery half way to him that he had seen enough and tried to smash one in the slot over the houses on St Alban’s road and duly sliced it high to point to end his innings.

Jake Pearch and that man McLoughlin continued to take Reigate towards their target, treating young Joseph Glen (who had taken 6 wickets the previous week) with disdain, dismissing his 4.4 overs for 27. Jake was out with two runs needed for victory, leaving skipper Ireland to get a red inker (though it was 0* so didn’t help his average!) and McLoughlin (you can’t keep him out the game!) to score the winning runs. Target chased in 17.4 overs for the loss of three wickets.

With the game wrapped up with less than 50 overs being bowled, everyone could enjoy their tea, without fear of having to do any more work and a couple of players even had time to get to the golf course for a cheeky 9 holes. In total this season Banstead 3s have scored 118 for 20 in 58.2 overs (0 points), with Reigate replying with 121 for 5 in 25.1 overs (44 points), confirming the gulf in strength between the two sides. Onwards to Dulwich away next week.

Match details

Match date

Sat 13 Jul 2019

Kickoff

12:00

Competition

Premier Division - 3rd XI
Team overview
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Team Sponsors

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