Surrey Championship Premier Division

Wimbledon 165

Reigate Priory 166-1

WITHOUT a trio of experienced first teamers, including captain Chris Murtagh, Reigate did the double over joint leaders Wimbledon to go clear at the top of the Surrey Championship Premier Division.

As well as Murtagh and vice-captain Neil Saker, both on Unicorns duty, Surrey batsman Jason Roy was also absent.

Yet the Llamas pulverised Wimbledon throughout the day to wrap up victory within two sessions.

Stand-in captain Michael Foster, returning from injury, lost the toss and Wimbledon decided to bat on a slow wicket.

The veteran batsman demanded a whole-hearted performance in the field from the start and the Llamas duly responded.

Alex Mendis and Richard Stephens took the new ball, bowling a very accurate opening 10 overs, conceding only 19 runs.

Mendis was first to strike, ending Steven Hobson's struggle at the crease for a slow six, caught by Simon Day at square leg after a failed hook shot.

After Stephens maintained the pressure with the ball, Mendis then removed his former Sussex second team captain Neil Turk, with Jon Perkins taking a juggling catch in the gully.

The opening bowlers had conceded only 33 runs in their 18 over opening spell, backed by aggressive fielding, with only the in-form Graham Grace able to progress the score through excellent running.

Foster introduced spinners Stuart Hume and Simon King, who, once they settled into their rhythm, did not allow any margin for error by the Wimbledon batsman.

Hume was the first to strike, removing Tim Monteleone caught by Fraser MacDonald at short leg.

With the score on 96, Hume then struck again, removing Sebastian Franke-Matthecka for 20, excellently caught by MacDonald diving forwards.

With lunch approaching, King got a ball to drift and turn sharply back through Paul Pierterse's hapless defences, leaving Wimbledon at 103-5 at lunch.

Soon after lunch, Grace finally found a single to bring up a patient and well-judged 50.

Hume eventually dragged Grace into a rash shot, not getting to the pitch of a turning ball, which looped to MacDonald at backward point. Reigate stayed patient, waiting for their opportunities to remove Steve Trenchard for 22, dismissed sweeping Hume, and keeper Tom Morris, caught behind by a bouncing ball from the reintroduced Stephens.

When King then had Graham Porter caught behind first ball, Wimbledon were languishing on 164-9.

Young Max Fernie had been playing aggressively in desperation, but Stephens was rewarded with bowling full and straight, rounding off the score for 165.

The veteran Hume was pick of the bowlers with 4-64 off 15, but the bowlers as a unit deserve the plaudits.

In response, Reigate's top three only required 29 overs to knock off the runs, largely thanks to a controlled and confident 85 off 82 from former captain Alex Richards.

Richards, together with Perkins, rode out an onslaught from the pacey Richard Banham and testing Porter, backed by a boisterous Wimbledon fielding unit.

Once both batsmen managed to open their shoulders and begun to accelerate the run rate, there was no stopping the Llama's charge.

The introduction of Monteleone and Trenchard did little to cause concern, although they occasionally passed the outside edge.

Monteleone eventually removed Perkins, caught by Trenchard for a well-paced 29.

Aiden Blizzard joined Richards, with the two attacking batsmen playing their natural game and scoring freely around the ground.

A dejected Wimbledon had no answer and had no further chances. Blizzard ended unbeaten on 49, smashing a four down the ground.

This was not an easy chase of a low target, but the Llama batsmen responded appropriately, making the result look so.

The convincing win was celebrated well by the Llamas, giving them lots of confidence for the Twenty20 challenge at Malden three days later.