RAMS revenge

Having been beaten by the Reigate Rapids earlier in the season in the reverse fixture, with almost 10 overs of the T20 remaining; Banstead were keen to get their revenge.

Banstead won the toss and chose to bat but got off to a slow start with just 2 runs from Dan Grant’s 1st over and 2 runs from Jacob McLoughlin’s 1st over with Jacob having opener Archie Fairfax-Ross (1) caught by Theo Colvin to have Banstead 4-1 after 2 overs. Just 2 more from Dan's 2nd over and 3 from Jacob's 2nd over with Jacob getting his 2nd wicket in bowling Freddie Ferro (2) to leave Banstead on 8-2 in the 4th over.

A brief respite from Banstead captain Bilal Muhammad and Nathan Barnwell with 6 & 12 from the next 2 overs before Dan Grant got a deserved wicket with Theo Colvin at deep square-leg taking his 2nd catch to dismiss Nathan Barnwell (14) and Banstead were 28-3 after 7 overs. This became 28-4 on the 1st ball of the next over when Jonny Flanders bowled Joe Brown (0).

Banstead steadily repaired the damage and 28-4 after 8 overs climbed to 91 in the 17th over thanks to captain Bilal Muhammad and Ellis Jarrold before Theo Colvin, having taken 2 catches, got a wicket of his own when he bowled Ellis Jarrold (31) but his single over cost him 13 runs as Bilal Muhammad took his team to 116 with a 4 off the last ball of the 19th over whereupon he had to retire on 50 no. Eleven runs from the last over took Banstead to 127-5 from their 20 overs.

Jacob's 2-22 from his 4 overs and Ed Russ’s 0-18 from his 4 overs was surpassed by 4 miserly overs for just 10 runs from Dan Grant.
The Llamas started with a bang as 17 runs; mostly from Jonny Flanders bat; came from the 1st over but the ascendancy didn't last long as wickets fell on a regular basis. Seth McDowall (9) was out lbw at 29-1 then Jonny (21) was caught at deep square leg for 36-2. Will Dahl (5) was bowled off his pads (44-3) as was Dan Grant (7) and the Llamas were 60-4 in the 11th over.

Falling slightly behind the required run rate the Llamas began to take risks and Will Timmons (10) was stumped at 63-5 and Tyler Shoare (3) was caught at deep mid-on for 68-6. Jacob McLoughlin (13) also fell to a catch at deep mid-on (83-7) and Finn Coyle was then stumped (83-8) as was a limping Ed Russ (2) to leave Reigate on 94-9.

A dozen runs from Theo Colvin before he was caught off the last ball of the 20 overs leaving Alex Wilbraham not out on 5 and the Llamas 22 runs short of their target.

Banstead’s young spin trio did the damage with a combined 11 overs with 6 wickets for 42 runs. U16 Joe Glenn 4 overs 2-16 & U16 Archie Fairfax-Ross 4 overs 1-15 and U14 Will Darbishire’s 3 overs 3-11 were the pick of the Banstead bowlers.

The end of an enjoyable, although unsuccessful, U19 T20 campaign.