A Magic cup start to the season

Surrey County Fuller’s League Cup, 1st round

Merstham 247-8

Chobham 78

Merstham began 2015 as they left off during their 150th season last year, by winning.

They defeated hosts Chobham in the opening round of the Fuller’s League Cup, making a stunning recovery from 28-4 to take a comprehensive victory.

Chobham were out for revenge having been narrowly defeated twice last season by the Magics, who won Division Two and were promoted as champions.

When the hosts won the toss and inserted Merstham to bat, their hopes seemed to be rewarded when Merstham’s top order were out cheaply.

However, Lithon Tarofder (45) and Noman Javed (75) put on 136 for the fifth wicket, before captain Naveed Saeed working with the tail end to push the score on to 247-8 in the 45 overs, Ammar Tahir finishing not out on 40, Matt Silk having long since finished his nine overs of capturing 4-16. Tahir's innings included three sixes, one of them the biggest the ground had ever seen.

After this remarkable turnaround, Merstham’s tails were up. Only opener Nicholas Jackman (23) showed resistance from the top six to Ammar Tahir, who took 5-22 from seven overs. Number seven bat Tom Orme (21) showed further resistance but Imran Islam (3-5) saw him off and Suliman Younis (2-29) as the hosts were all out after 19 overs for 78.

The reward for victory is a trip to Long Ditton on Sunday in the second round, after hosting Chaldon in their first Division One league game on Saturday.

On Sunday, the the interclub friendly was called off because of a wet pitch.