Merstham’s first team leapt back towards the top two in the Fuller’s League Premier Division with an inspired bowling spell from Suliman Younis.

The paceman took 6-28 from 12 overs as hosts Merstham took the 10 wickets they need to win in the 37th over, having been put in to bat by SinjunGrammarians and set a target of 170-9 in their 50 overs.

On a damp track, captain Nav Saeed was pleased that Noman Javed put together 41 after Merstham lost three early wickets. His main partnership was with Sunny Bowry (31) and all nine batsmen to be out were caught, included two caught and bowled.

In reply, Younis took no prisoners with three of the top four removed quickly. Merstham had to take a little longer to see the back of Sinjuns’ overseas player Samad Abdul Khadeer (who had taken 3-56). “He was trying to manage their innings and eventually we got him caught on the boundary for 52,” said Saeed. “The game seasawed as to who was on top but once we got him out we were very much on top.”

Younis was the man to catch him, at long off, from the bowling of Arsalan Abass (2-10 off 4).

Saeed added: “Noman batted really well and Sunny batted for a long time. Suli spent half an hour in the nets batting and bowling and took six wickets as a result.”

Victory meant Merstham leapfrogged their opponents into third as they look for a third successive promotion, for which they need to finish in the top two. “Hopefully we’re back on track now,” said the skipper, whose team face bottom side Roehampton on Saturday.

The second team maintained their charge for a second successive promotion of their own, with another victory which keeps them in the top two of the 5th division for second teams.

Winning the toss, they invited hosts Cobham Avorians to bat and restricted their opponents to 66 -9 off 45 overs.

Imran Aslam snaffled 4-29 in his 14 overs, seven of which were maidens. He accounted for both openers while Ameer Pasha did even better, taking 3-9 from just eight overs. Manish Patel took 0-5 in eight overs and six maidens, with a total of 21 maidens bowled in the 45 overs.

Keeper Neil Maplesden took three catches. Jason Drewett added to his unbeaten scores with another 34 not out as Merstham chased down the total within 22 overs for two wickets down, Manish Patel still there with him at the end on 14.

The third team’s match at Addiscombe didn’t happen, while the fourth team faced Addiscombe’s 4s at The Ring, which was a wet wicket where the toss would be crucial.

Unfortunately skipper Ian Lamont couldn’t maintain his winning streak in that regard and inevitably found his side batting on what they hoped would be a drying wicket.

The top order squelched their way to the square (through one particular patch of the outfield) only to squelch their way back again far too quickly as the hosts were reduced to 15-5, with the ball coming on to the bat even later than usual.

Rod Wood found his feet - and dug them out of the crease - to top score with 24, ably assisted in the middle of the innings by Lamont (15) who chastised himself for taking a wild swing at a looper from Adam Stevens (4-25 off 10) that bowled him. Jon Coleman was the last man standing, annoyed at not being able to add to a promising six runs as Merstham were all out for 76 after 26 overs.

Glyn Albuquerque has long since been a thorn in the side of Merstham teams, but the 4s were not about to be rolled over and tickled. They had their visitors 9-3 after seven overs, with Gopa Nair not catching Albuquerque but collecting the ball and running out captain Jack Southwell at the other end with a lovely direct throw.

Jez Gray had taken up the silly positions in the hope of catching close quarters, but the pressure tactics didn’t quite work in that fashion as Albuquerque nudged his way to 22 before, from Nair’s bowling, he was caught in the deep by Bharat Sahani’s special skippy catching technique.

Omer Shuja had taken an early wicket and bowled almost throughout returning 1-27 from 12 overs including four maidens. Jon Coleman’s fireballs were most economical with 1-9 from seven overs while Will Prior took a tidy 0-7 from his three overs late on.

After Brandon Dias was also run out, Mokter Hussain (27) and W Imran (4) got Addiscombe over the line, five wickets down, after 30 overs.

Picture by Chris Lowe