Double win for first team: weekend round-up
MERSTHAM continue to set the pace at the top of the Fuller’s Surrey County League Division Two in their 150th anniversary year after a third win from three matches. (Click here for a photo gallery of pictures taken by the Surrey Mirror)
They are also into the last 16 of the league cup, for which they host the final at Quality Street on September 7, after winning their second round match at Mitcham, of division one, on Sunday.
“It was a great win against a team in a higher division. Roll on the next round,” said captain Nav Saeed, whose side batted first and scored 202 in 45 overs.
Key batsman Lithon Tarofder notched 50 while Manish Patel struck 30 and the skipper 25.
The visitors dismissed Mitcham for 136, Ammar Tahir taking three wickets and will host Weybridge Vandals or Putney in round three.
Victory followed another in the league on Saturday, in a seesaw encounter Merstham won by 33 runs.
Merstham won the toss and batted, Noman Kiyani, a new player this season, bagging 83 and Wasil Mohar making 42 as the visitors made 213-9 from 45 overs.
Humayun Nasir took three wickets as the hosts were all out for 180 in 40 overs.
Merstham travel to Caterham on Saturday.
The second team also won, with three balls remaining, in a tight contest at Quality Street against Woodmansterne’s seconds see scorecard.
While the hosts could not remove Chris Vagg (77) they restricted the visitors to 184-5 from 45 overs, Manish Patel taking 2-15 from nine overs with four maidens.
Richard Feist, batting seven, top scored as Merstham recovered from 14-2 before losing a total of nine wickets in overhauling the total.
The third and fourth XIs both found they needed batting practice, just as the Quality Street nets are out of action for a week and being replaced.
The thirds lost at The Ring, keeping SinjunGrammarians to 163-8 off 50 overs, Omer Shuja bowling tightly for 2-15 and four maidens in his 10 overs.
In reply, however, Kanchana Kahakachchi and Jez Gray were top scorers with 16 apiece as the hosts were all out for 92 in the 40th over.
The fourths joined host Sanderstead in a minute’s silence, held for the South Croydon club's long-term benefactor Harley Sherlock. In a fitting tribute, all four of Sanderstead's adult Saturday sides took victories.
Merstham bowled and fielded tightly, restricted the South Croydon club to what they felt was an achievable target with the hosts scoring 107-8.
Sumair Qasim cemented his place as an opening bowler for the fourths by taking 5-19 with four maidens in two spells covering 16 overs. Qasim's haul included the wicket of Lance Harris, who walked – with the spirit of how Mr Sherlock saw the game in mind – after nicking an edge to wicketkeeper Rob Wood, who later took another catch.
Tom Crouch bowled well without reward (10 overs, three maidens) while Nimit Shah’s 11 overs were eventually rewarded with 2-19.
Unfortunately, Merstham were all out for 34, with number three Shah batting stoically for 13 not out to top score, in the 20 overs the team managed to bat out.