Colts round-up: Merstham’s Under-9s Eagles have won two of their opening three matches, including the eagerly awaited match against their clubmates, the Under-9s Hawks.

Their only defeat has been to Reigate Priory, who have also defeated the club’s Under-10s in their first match of the season.

The Under-11s also lost their opening two fixtures in the East Surrey Colts League, both away, but players recorded some notable achievements.

In the keenly anticipated Merstham Under-9s derby, a game played in fantastic spirit between the club’s two teams came down to a thrilling, nail-biting finish.

With one ball left, any result could have occurred after the Hawks scored 279. In the end, the Eagles triumphed by a solitary run, scoring 280-5, but all agreed that cricket was the real winner.

The match showed that the distribution of the players between two Merstham Under 9s teams was very even.

For the Hawks, Oliver Durston took two wickets for two runs from two overs and Jacob Law top scored with 16 runs off 17 balls.

Top scorer for the Eagles was Max Thomas with 13 off 14 balls.  He also took three wickets along with Luke Hirchfield and Flynn McRobbie.

Previously, the Eagles had won at home over South Nutfield, scoring 293-3 to 262-3.

Will John-Cox made an impressive 25 off 12 balls and took a wicket. Luke Hirchfield scored a very creditable 17 off 14 balls.

At Reigate Priory on May 9, the hosts scored 276-11 and the Eagles 247-13.

There were good scores by Will John-Cox (12 off 9) and Flynn McRobbie (11 off 15). Max Thomas took four wickets off three overs.

The Under-10s lost a pairs match at Reigate, a gripping game coming down to the last over. Reigate needed 10 from it and scored a single off the last ball to win.

Top batters were Adam Swan scoring 15, Akif Sabir scoring 12, neither boy loosing a wicket.

Bowlers included a tight two overs from Jasper Parsons finishing with 2-0-6-2 and Zohaib Faisal taking 3-1-14-4 including a hat-trick with the third wicket caught behind by wicketkeeper Will Harrison.

The Under-11s lost by 82 runs in the rain at Lingfield on May 4 in their first match, top scorer Matthew Greaves on five, although he was bowled, as the visitors scored 200-7 in reply to 282-4.

Those who took wickets were Aditya Chougule, Liam Barry, Charlie Holland and Theo Elliot.

In their second match on May 9 at Outwood, the host scored 296-7 and Merstham 242-9.

Top Scorers: Aditya Chougule (10 runs/1 wicket) and Matthew Greaves (9 runs/0 wicket).

Top bowlers:  Nick Wright (his first match for Merstham) – 3 overs, 0 maidens, 11 runs, 2 wickets and Noah Young (usually plays for the NEC U11’s – he played as we were short a player) – 2 overs; 1 maiden; 1 run; 1 wicket.

A hard-hitting 27 from Tom Segal batting at No 9 was a valiant attempt to put on a good target, but Merstham U15s were all out for 79 off 15.4 overs in this league match against Oxted and Limpsfield.