Matthew Lewis Shield: Sunday sides both win

None of Merstham's four league teams saw meaningful action on Saturday, which meant Sunday's Matthew Lewis Memorial Shield match at Quality Street became an even bigger focus for the club.
It was the fifth year the match had been staged against Mogador Wanderers in memory of Matthew, a former player for both sides. But it was the first year it was staged as a fundraiser for charity.
Burgers, sausages and a raffle made about £600 for the Winston's Wish charity, which helps bereaved children, young people and their families, offering support and guidance. Other items will be auctioned at a later date, possibly in Reigate Priory's cricket week.
Matthew - the son of former Merstham chairman, life member and vice-president Allan - died from a heart attack in December 2009, aged 41.
On a soft Quality Street pitch, thanks to the previous day’s rain, the hosts batted first in the 40 overs a side match.
Merstham batted solidly with all contributing, notable performances came from S Bowry, scoring 34, and Gus Locke, scoring 23.
Mogador Wanderers bowled well with Andy Tharp taking 3 wickets for 38 from 8 overs and 2) Joseph Lewis, Matthew's brother, taking 3-26 from 8 overs. The last wicket fell on the last ball of the innings, Merstham scoring 166 all out.
Following tea, Merstham took the field with Chris Clayson (2-15 from 6) and Bobby Sharp (1-17 from 6) opening the bowling and seeing off the openers for under 20 runs.
Mogador’s Ben Fairclough came to the crease, hitting some very long sixes, eventually scoring 55 runs. Fairclough was ably assisted for a short while by Matthew's son Oscar, aged 10 (who plays for Sussex U10s coached by Matt Prior), scoring a very cultured 7 runs.
Andy Tharp joined Fairclough and knocked up 32 before being dismissed LBW by Bowry (2-16 from 4). Gus Locke also bowled very well for the hosts, taking 2-22 of 8.
The match came to a last ball climax, with the Mogs requiring five runs for a win from the last ball of the innings; the pressure got to Lithon Tarofder who bowled a no-ball and the visitors stole an additional run, bringing them to 164, however, Mogs’ Joseph Lewis failed to connect with the final ball bring victory to Merstham.
The Matt Lewis cup stakes are now 3-2 in Mogs' favour, Merstham are hoping to draw level in 2015.
More details about the charity can be found at www.winstonswish.org.uk/about-us/ where donations can also be made.
The Sunday seconds also enjoyed a victory, after a jaunt through south London in a borrowed minibus up to Blackheath cricket/rugby/tennis/chess club for a game arranged through the Cricket Conference after Merstham’s original opponents pulled out of a game at The Ring.
It was the only time many of the players are ever likely to play in front of a stand which could seat 200 people and the game was played on a lovely flat, drying pitch played on a true surface which had been protected by full covers.
Upon arrival, the host captain generously announced to Merstham skipper Bill Ash that as Merstham were the guests, we could choose whether to bat or bowl, without the need to toss a coin.
Having already sought the views of his team beforehand, Ash had no hesitation in asking the hosts to bat in the 40-overs-a-side match.
Merstham set about their task efficiently, with Liam Powell taking 3-17 in his 4 overs (1 maiden), accounting for batsmen one, two and four.
A patient innings of 47 from P Ford helped Blackheath amass 119 from only 37.4 overs, Ash (4 overs no maidens 1-12) almost apologetically taking the number three batsman’s wicket lbw late in the innings.
Merstham rotated the bowling, using seven in the attack, with Sumair Qasim taking 2-12 off 5.4 and James Lowe retaliating to being swiped for four by the Blackheath skipper by delivering a forceful reply next ball to bowl him out. Bharat Sahani was most economical with 1-6 off 6 overs (1 maiden).
In reply, Powell’s steady knock of 32, including five fours, set a platform for victory, but while the scoreboard ticked up the wickets fell with worrying regularity.
Powell was the sixth wicket to fall, with the score on 60, in the 17th over. He left James Lowe at the crease, who forged 29 to almost put Merstham over the line.
Stephen Prior also compiled nine, including a run having hit the ball and sent his bat flying to midwicket. Lowe fell lbw to Ford in the 22nd over with the score on 105.

Then, with nine wickets down and five runs needed, Terry Garrett survived one ball of what proved the penultimate over, before Ash nudged a four and then managed a single to finish on 14 not out, giving the visitors victory by one wicket.

On Saturday, the first team - who have won all their three Fuller's County League Division Two games this season - were 29-1 after 8 overs when no further play became possible because of rain at Caterham.

The second team's match, at Quality Street, was also abandoned and the third team's game was called off before they travelled to Thames Ditton. The fourth team 'won' courtesy of Epsom Woodcote conceding last Thursday.