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The awards and the drinks were flowing at Merstham Cricket Club on Saturday night, after a successful season.

The first team player of the year, presented by captain Nav Saeed, went to Tharusha Tilakarathne, an all rounder who also picked up the club’s overall award for most wickets during the season.

The new newcomer to the club this season also scored plenty of runs to help the team clinch the Fuller’s League DIvision One title, a year after winning Division Two.

Top picture: Chris Clayson collects the Periam Cup from chairman Graeme Attridge

Second picture: Tharusha Tilakarathne collects one of his two awards from first team captain Nav Saeed

But the man with the most runs at the club this season was TT’s fellow first teamer Noman Javed (below).

Nav began his speech asking for 30 seconds of applause for two people who had died over the winter, Rosemary Attridge (membership secretary, tea rota organiser, chaser of annual subs and much else) and Terry Garrett (who was treasurer for 20 years up until 18 months ago and still playing for the Sunday seconds last year).

Club captain and second team captain Richard Feist handed the honour of second team player of the year to bowler Saf Aslam, whose efforts helped the team also win their division, the Fuller’s League 2nd XI Premier, earning promotion to the Ryman League.

Richard Feist hands the second team player of the year award to Saf Aslam

The third team award, handed out by vice-captain Ben Carter in the absence of Mark Robson who was away, went to Bobby Sharp, who thoroughly enjoyed sending back batsmen to the pavilion at The Ring with a long list of bowling successes. The third team finished fourth in the 3rd XI East Division of the Ryman Championship and had led the division at one stage.

Bobby Sharp accepts the 3rd XI player of the year prize from Ben Carter

The fourth team honour went to Bharat Sahani, who has been a strong right hand man to captain Tony Rickards in a succession season. They also finished fourth, in the Ryman Championship 4th XI East Division having led the division at one point, having had their best season in years.

Bharat Sahani collects the 4th XI player of the year award from Tony Rickards

The Sunday first team player of the year went to Rory Crouch, who scored a century in one of the two matches Bobby Sharp (standing in for Jon White) spoke about in his speech.

Rory Crouch accepts first team player of the year from Bobby Sharp

Bill Ash give the Sunday second team award to a promising junior, Joe Rees-Davis (below).

Jason Kyte took the award for most catches (presented by Richard Feist, below), while Michael PItcher (5) claimed the ‘ducks’ award which strangely seems to have been hung on to by last year’s winner.

Jason Drewett, who opens the batting for the second team, received the award for the best batting average (below).

Lastly, but by no means least, the prestigious Periam Cup for ‘clubman of the year’ (services to the club during the year) went to Chris Clayson.

At the start of the night, James Roulston was also re-presented with the Surrey OSCA - outstanding services to cricket award - he won in August. This was young volunteer of the year, presented at Surrey Cricket Club at a dinner at a one day match, for the work he has done helping groundsman Bernard Feist prepare the ground at Quality Street every week. He is now put forward, as a county winner, for consideration to the national award, which will be announced at Lord’s in October.

Bernard and Bob McGillivray received presentations in gratitude for their groundsmanship. Umpires Dave Loader and John Freitag, plus first team scorer Sue David also received presents as ‘thank yous’ for their hard work this season.

Jason Drewett took the prize for best batting average in the club, from club captain Richard Feist