Fifty the Magic number for Javed: weekend round-up

NOMAN JAVED lifted himself to the top of the run-scoring charts in Merstham’s first team as the divisional leaders took an eighth win from nine games in the Fuller's League Division Two, knocking off the target for six wickets down after bowling Caterham out for 161.

The other game had been rained off earlier in the season – at Saturday’s opponents Caterham, a side who lost the toss in this return fixture and were asked to bat at Quality Street.

The visitors made a good start, Rob Holton making 25 before being caught and bowled by Ammar Tahir, who next had number three Sam Armitage caught for 12.

Opener Stuart Reavell, who top scored with 61, found partnerships hard to form after that, with Tahir (3-48 off 14 overs with three maidens) and Javed (3-27 off 6) accounting for the middle order.

Reavell eventually succumbed, becoming Asim Jafferi’s only victim (1-34 off 10, three maidens) while Jon Crisp (23) and Danish Sheikh (16 not out) put on a late rally. Lithon Tarofder took the last three wickets (3-29 off 6.3 overs) as the visitors were dismissed for 161 after 41.3 overs.

In reply, Opener Ashar Syed (26) made a steady start before being caught off Hiten Patel, who took 2-38 in his opening eight over spell which including trapping Shakir Khan lbw for four.

Opener Jason Kyte had been caught without troubling the scorers, but Javed helping the hosts recover from that early wobble with his maiden league 50 for the club, taking his total runs this season to 157.

He formed an excellent middle order partnership with Humayoon Nasir before being bowled by Daniel Pollard (1-40 off 11).

Nasir then found another partner in Tarofder, who had been the team’s top run scorer but is now second on 153 after a steady 21 before being caught by Hiten Patel off Danish Sheikh (1-14 off 2). After skipper Naveed Saeed came and went for a duck, caught by Rob Holton off Sunny Patel, Imran Aslam was the other not out batsman (1) as Merstham took victory after 36 overs, despite the determined efforts of Caterham’s Jon Crisp, who was unrewarded in terms of wickets, but bowled four maidens in his eight overs (0-21). Nasir finished on 49 not out as Merstham finished on 165-6.

The second team rued the weather, having bowled out Merrow for 104. Safyam Aslam took 5-38 in 16 overs (6 maidens) and James Lowe 5-56 off 15.5 as the hosts were dismissed in 31.5 overs. The hosts lost their first wicket on 12 runs, then reached 45 before Aslam struck his second. Another down on 58, Lowe struck twice on 69 including opener Ian Bow (top scorer, 35) and the last wicket stand was 26.

Unfortunately, the heavens opened and no further play was possible.

The third team, put in to bat by Thames Ditton at The Ring, were all out for 58, only Sumair Qasim reaching double figures with 12. They were all out in 19.5 overs and had little answer to Hamza Butt (7-28 in 10.5 overs).

Alex Goodey, the fifth of six bowlers used, took the only wicket, bowling Chris Rigby for 16 as the visitors reached the target in 10.3 overs.

The fourth team won by default when Epsom Woodcote (the club’s fifth team) conceded on Thursday.

The Sunday first team lost at Ashford, even though Ian Doggett stopped the onslaught at 103 and retired. James Berressem also scored 69 in Ashford's tital of 306-6 off 40 overs.

Merstham thought they had made a good start when Bobby Sharp broke Zane Hussain's (13) resistance for 34-1 but that was his only reward. Sunny Bowry managed 2-46 but the going was tought.

In reply, Merstham's top order was swiftly skittled, until Bobby Sharp notched 79 in partnership with Olly Mayes (16) and G Singh (49 not out) to give the score respectabilitiy. Dave Loader also finished not out, on 1, as Merstham finished nine wickets down from their 40 overs, on 191.

A depleted Sunday seconds team headed to Smallfield, who kindly allowed two batsmen to return to the crease for a second crack, withdrew an appeal for another, and filled up our fielding side during a shorter than normal match of 35 overs apiece. 

Two late additions, John Goodman and US import Thomas Kenny (one of our U12s managers)  made their debuts for Merstham, helping the visitors set a positive looking target of 145 after 35, with contributions of 49 (from two innings) by Kashif Noone, 26 from skipper Bill Ash, and 25 from Kenny (in his first ever cricket game, playing with a junior bat) and everyone contributing.

A dangerously good Victoria Sponge weighed down the Merstham team as the sides swapped and, despite an interruption for rain a few overs into the second innings, the early overs proved expensive as several balls were heaved into the adjacent field during the hosts' early reply.

Ash (bowling pace in a departure from tradition), Noone (spin) and Terry Garrett (spin) vacuumed up the overs with Noone offering the most impressive figures at 3-6 off 4 overs.  Honourable mention to baseballer Kenny, who 'stepped up to the plate', bowling without spikes on a slippery wicket, creating a remarkable run out (likewise performing some notable fielding heroics, including a catch). 

Things began to look bleak by over 27, the hosts needing only 10 to win with three wickets in hand, but the twirly men at each end rattled through the stumps and the match was poised at 145 for 9.  Noone finished off Smallfield's number 10 (injured from a valiant dive to avoid a runout during the previous over) in the last ball of the 30th over to seal an honourable tie.

All in all, a strong team performance under tricky circumstances, many players performing roles well outside their normal positions - both with bat and ball, new players, and an agreeable result for which Merstham should salute Smallfield for the manner in which the game was played."