The benefits of leaving Llama Percy in complete charge of our Cricket Club’s Fixtures are there for all to see on our website (www.llamascricket.com). We have a beautifully balanced list of matches against Established and Non-Established Club with trips to Somerset, Wiltshire, Hampshire and Devon all on the cards. We have further matches against ex-university rivals and various other young teams from London and moreover, every match has a pitch already organised and a choice of players already available. With the help of Microsoft Excel it is staggering what can be achieved from the comfort of one’s desk. When The LCC offered Llama Percy the post of Fixtures Secretary though we all knew that with this thoroughness was going to come a degree of spontaneity and unpredicatbleness, such was evident for the first time when this new club, The Reigate Llamas, appeared on our fixture list.
Unlike us, where a ‘Gap Yar’ in South America is a highly favourable credential when it comes to player selection (the main reason for Llama Ward’s recent trip), Reigate CC have adopted the name to satisfy growing pressure from other local cricket clubs to be associated with an animal. Overshadowed by the prowess of the Wimbledon Lions and the Weybridge Jaguars, Reigate, I quote: “Decided to go for the most unintimidating animal they could think off!” It was then due to name association that Llama Percy organised us a fixture against them!
The fixture I believe is a glorious one as the pitch is close to London, the ground and club house are professionally kept and the opposition team are good sports. It is unfortunate that such a stern test of our ability has come so early in the season however and I suggest that maybe we look to replay these guys when we are slightly more practiced in 2012. Their average age was about 17 (which is one and a half times our bats mans average score), and the number of county standard players they had was 2 (equal to the number of runs Llama Froud scored off about 30 deliveries).
Luckily we lost the toss and were forced to bat because when the match commenced at 1:30pm (the official starting time) we only had 6 players. Llama S. Roberts opened the batting and did well with his brother Llama B. Roberts (Devon Malcom), we looked comfortable and professional. Then a wicket fell and Llama S. Roberts was back in the changing room. Llama Ward came in at three but ran himself out at 2 (2 O’clock that is). Cheese went in, Ben came out, Max went in, Cheese came out, Smithy went in, Max came out and all of a sudden we had our backs against the wall. Mossy, Rob, Froud, CVF and Percy all tried hard but no one came to the rescue. We finished on a respectable but questionable 131, it was always going to be hard to defend. Unless that is we could get them all out really quickly.
None of us had appreciated whilst batting however that this was actually a very difficult wicket to bowl on, with a steep uphill climb in the last five yards of the bowlers run up on both ends. And, it was actually a lovely wicket to bat on, fair honest and unlike our secretary, predictable. CVF bowled as beautifully as he always does but the incline really impeded on his style. Percy was consistent, dangerous and took our only wicket. Ben Roberts (Devon Malcom) kindly gave Percy a break half way through his overs and then resumed when Percy was finished, bowling with plenty of speed & vigour justifying the recommendations he came with. Pedro was first change at CVF’s end and looked excellent. Smithy revealed his bowling talents to The Llamas too but the match was lost by this point. We failed to defend 131 runs so failed to be victorious.
One of our Llamas summarised the afternoon beautifully over a drink after the match by saying; “We didn’t really score enough runs… or take enough wickets.”
Excellent sport all the same though, and played in a good spirit (with a streaker who couldn’t manage to climb back up the wall he had come down to grace us with his presence).
I’m looking forward to hitting back on Saturday!
Thank you to everybody for making the effort.
Llama of the Match: Ben Roberts (Devon Malcom)
Hugo Froud (Dalai Llama)
[...] Despite the disappointing lack of nudity, an enjoyable game was played on a beautiful ground and we have been asked back next year, which is great news. The Dalai Llama‘s report can be read here. [...]