League and cup game winning weekend for first team
Merstham’s first team notched up a winning double on Bank Holiday weekend, with victory in the first Fuller’s League Division One game of the season as well as making further progress in the league cup.
Captain Naveed Saeed decided to ask visitors Chaldon CMO to bat in Saturday’s league game and his decision was rewarded when they were all out for 124.
Ammar Tahir, bowling with pace and bounce, took 4-25 from nine overs including the visitors’ two highest scorers Ijaz Hussain (30) and Faizan Shahid (27), both caught.
Tahir also caught Chaldon opener Aamir Abbas off Wasil Mohar’s bowling (1-40).
Asim Jafferi took 3-20 and debutant Imran Kakar 2-20 off four overs as Chaldon were out after 25.1 overs.
In reply, opening batsmen Jason Kyte (23) and Ashar Syed (44) batted sensible, putting 71 on for the first wicket to set up a seven-wicket win in the 30th over.
On Sunday, Long Ditton hosted the Magics in the cup and this time Naveed elected to field after winning the toss.
Tahir (3-22 off nine overs), fellow opener Bobby Sharp and Lithon Tarofder (2-27 off nine) all bowled really well as the hosts were out for 109 in 40 overs.
Sharp’s 2-32 off nine overs accounted for both openers, including James Mumford caught and bowled.
Sunny Bowry took 1-19 and Arsalan Abass, at the end of the innings, bagged 2-6.
There was a sense it would be a tough wicket to bat on and so it proved, as wickets were lost at regular intervals. Opener Ed Dawson made 17, Abass 27 and Sunni Bowry, batting six, top scored with 33 as Merstham won by two wickets after 33 overs.
Merstham hosts Mitcham or Thames Ditton in round three on June 7 and continue their league season on Saturday at Mitcham on Saturday.