Tommy Takes The Plaudits

Reigate won the toss and chose to bat. Opener & Captain Will Timmons was out for 2 when he played on to the last ball of the 1st over bowled by opposition Captain Jack Fletcher and the Rapids were 3-1.

Any thoughts of Friday 13th and superstitions of bad luck were quickly put out of the mind as Advaith Bali then joined Jacob McLoughlin and although Adi was dropped at gulley in the 3rd over, the pair ran well for 1’s and 2’s and both hit 2 fours with Jacob (Llama 1st teamer) hitting a six off Esher 1st teamer Trishan Patel (4-0-20-0) with fellow Esher 1st teamer Freddie Harrison’s opening over going for 10.

A powerful straight drive from Jacob cartwheeled a stump at the bowlers end as they scored at about a run a ball taking their partnership to 90 when in the 15th over with the score on 93; Jacob (44) was the 2nd wicket to fall when he skied a catch to gulley from the bowling of Alex French (4-0-24-1). Advaith (30) followed next over (16th) when he nicked one from Jack Joyce legside for a fine catch by keeper Denil Manuel and the Llamas were 94-3.

With wickets in hand the Rapids had licence to “get on with it” and although wickets fell on a regular basis, all the batsmen scored at about a run a ball. Tyler Shoare smashed a four before being bowled by Jack Joyce (4-0-31-2) for the 2nd wicket in the 16th over which left Reigate on 98-4. Ed McTavish and Will Brewis added 20 off 11 balls before Ed was out for 11 caught at extra cover by a diving catch by Trishan Patel for Jack Fletcher’s 2nd wicket (4-0-34-2) at 118-5.

In the 19th over Ollie Harris’ quick-fire innings (11 from 6 balls) was brought to an end when he was bowled by Freddie Harrison and Alex Wilbraham fell the same way for Freddie Harrison’s 2nd wicket (4-0-27-2) and 129-6 became 129-7. Last over (20th) saw Ed Russ run out 1st ball for 130-8 before Will Brewis (8) suffered similar fate for 132-9. Just one ball of the innings left which Theo Colvin belted for a 6 to finish the Llama innings at 138-9.

Runs on the board and fading light during the 2nd innings meant this was a decent target to defend and the Llamas started well as Ed Russ struck twice (4-0-28-2) in the 4th over with Will Timmons taking a Captain’s catch at deep long off to dismiss Esher 1st teamer Trishan Patel (6) and then Ed bowled another Esher 1st teamer Freddie Harrison (2) and Esher were 18-2 at the end of the 4th over.

At the other end Will Brewis bowled 3 overs for just 10 runs and after 5 overs Esher were pegged back to just 20 runs. Theo Colvin came on and completed an unusual over of no runs from the bat, 2 wides and 2 wickets (2-0-14-2) as he firstly had Esher 2nd teamer Anosh Mailk (1) caught at square leg by Ed McTavis and then bowled Alex Page (0) to see Esher go from 32-3 to 33-4 to 34-4 at the end of the 7th over.

With 105 needed from 13 overs (8 an over) Esher’s opening bat Denil Manuel was joined by Rohan Gupta. Rohan had earlier had the misfortune to field in front of the balcony which had, for the most part good humouredly, been Reigate’s version of the Headingly Western Terrace. Rohan was clearly not put off by this experience as he played his part with Denil Manuel to keep Esher in the hunt as neither Jacob McLoughlin (4-0-26-0) nor Ollie Harris (2-0-17-0) could part them and after 14 overs Esher were 90-4 and still on target with 8 an over the asking rate.

Will Timmons was switching his bowlers and then introduced U15 Tommy Bates and this proved to be an inspired choice as Tommy turned the game back in Reigate’s favour as he took 2 wickets in his 1st over (the 15th) as Ed Russ at deep cow corner took the catch to dismiss opener Denil Manuel for 46 and then Tommy clean bowled opposition Captain Jack Fletcher for a duck as Esher went from 92-5 to 93-6 by the end of the 15th over.

Esher were not done yet as Tyler Shoare’s single over went for 10 before Tommy Bates took his 3rd wicket with the last ball of the 17th over when he clean bowled James Page (8) and Esher were 105-7 now needing 34 to win from the last 3 overs. Just 6 from the 18th over, bowled by Ed; before Tommy Bates, bowling the 19th over, got his 4th wicket when Advaith Bali held onto a catch at deep long on to dismiss Jack Joyce (4) and have Esher at 111-8.

At this point Tommy’s figures were 3.5-0-7-4 but were slightly spoilt as Rohan Gupta hit Tommy’s last ball for 6 and with just one over left Esher were 121-8. 17 was to prove to be too many as in fading light Will Brewis took a high caught and bowled to finish with excellent figures of 4-0-16-1 as he dismissed Rohan Gupta who while not quite having the last word for the balcony his 38 received well earned applause as Esher finished on 128-9.