Just like England’s Jimmy Anderson, Merstham’s Asim Jafferi suffered a side injury as he tried to bowl on Saturday, when Surrey County Fuller's Brewery League Division One leaders Merstham lost to mid table Mitcham by 93 runs. Mitcham scored 227 while Merstham could only manage 134. 

Unfortunately for the hosts, the number four bowler lasted just one ball as Merstham tried to stop the flow of runs for Mitcham’s opening bat Dharam Vyas, who scored 70 of 64 balls (14 fours) and was eventually bowled by Tharusha Tilakarathne leaving the visitors 126-3.

Vyas batted aggressively, attacking the opening bowlers Ammar Tahir and Suliman Younis, making 56 with Parth Vyas who was next out, for 38, with the score 168-4.

Pictures from the match can be found on the Surrey Mirror website.

Jafferi’s absence meant bowling the spinners for long periods, Tilakarathne finishing with 2-40 off 13  with three maidens as Mitcham struck 227 in 48.4 overs.

Humayoon Nasir took 3-34 off 10 while Arsalan Abass returned 3-12 off 3.4 overs late in the innings.

In reply, Merstham lost Joe Shinners early with Andy Rivers striking the ball very sensibly for 31 off 68 balls until getting caught at gully trying to speed up the scoring, leaving the hosts 51-5.

All rounder Tilakarathne then top scored with 54 but was adjudged leg before leaving the total 121-7, a marker which ensured a batting point. Saeed was not out on eight at the end, having run out of partners as the hosts were dismissed after 46.1 overs, by then trying to secure the draw.

Disappointed Saeed said: “We played really well at Frimley the week before when we scored 239 and this week we bowled badly. We either bat or bowl really well and this week did neither.

“We had a long discussion in the changing room afterwards. The over confidence thing is still there and we’ve got to go back to basics.”

Merstham host Deando Ruxley on Saturday, while second placed Frimley face West End Esher.

The second team continue to lead their division, by seven points from Staines and Laleham, after dismissing another team cheaply, this time second to bottom Warlingham.

The hosts were put into bat and dismissed for 93 in the 30th over, Imran Khan taking 4-11 off five overs, with Wasil Mohar returning 3-24 off 7.5 and S Islam 2-27 off nine.

Jason Drewett led the charge to victory with 48 not out, Jason Kyte next best scorer with 17 as the visitors won by six wickets in 21.2 overs.

The third team lost an incredibly tight game at The Ring after dismissing visitors Thames Ditton for 127 in 35.4 overs.

Bobby Sharp usually enjoys himself at the venue and took 5-26 off 10 overs.

As if that isn’t a good enough achievement in itself, the club’s fixtures secretary took three wickets in one maiden over, bowling St John Farley and Julian Monk before having Andy Jones caught by Asim Ashraf, all with the score on 123. Jonathan Hogg took 2-10 off 8 overs including 4 maidens while Imran Aslam, Zeesha Murtaza and James Lowe all took a wicket.

In reply, opener Ashraf scored 15, Liam Powell 30 and Murtaza 15 as the hosts seemed to be making comfortable progress. Skipper Mark Robson notched 17 batting No 8 to try to steer the tail home before being caught, Sharp was trapped lbw for seven before Aslam was last man out with the score on 122, a tantalising six runs short of victory after 31.3 overs.

The fourth team secured a winning draw at Trinity Mid Whitgiftian, whom they invited to bat on their own pitch after winning the toss.

Steve Kember (63), Dave Martin (39) Dan Crouch (88 - caught and bowled by Marcus Kyte) did the damage in posting 231-4 after 43.5 overs, prompting an early declaration.

New face Azhar Bhatti took 1-18 off 3 overs with Rob Harris and Bharat Sahani taking the other wickets.

In reply, Kashif Noon scored 18, Bhatti 59 and Mohsin Bukhari 49 as Merstham held out for the draw on 197-7, their biggest total of the season, after 47 overs.