Merstham U9s joint top after four straight wins

Merstham Under 9s made it 4 wins from 4 with a fantastic team effort to beat Limpsfield Chart on Saturday and site proudly joint top of the East Surrey Colts League Group B, writes John White.

Batting first (for the first time this season), Merstham made an excellent start with Alec Baker and Oliver White (19) putting on 25 for the first pair.

Steady scoring throughout the innings, particularly some excellent running between the wickets by Theo Webster, Priyan Upadhyay (12) and Oliver Wicks saw Merstham's score steadily increasing, before some big hitting by Travis Bateman (12) and Charlie Halford-Nicholls (17) at the end took us up to 303-4 after our 20 overs.

William Chapman (1-16) and Alec (2-15) got Merstham off to a great start when bowling. Further wickets for Samuel Millard-Burda, Priyan and Theo, before an amazing spell of two consecutive maiden overs by Ishaan Acharya, left Merstham in control. Oliver White (3-7) and Charlie (2-7) then finished things off in style, with Limpsfield finishing on 251-11.

This was a wonderful team performance by our under 9s, of which all the boys should be very proud.

In earlier matches this season, Merstham went top of the division after two wins in 18 hours – both of them close fought affairs.

Facing Capel on a Friday evening at a rain affected Quality Street, Merstham restricted their opponents to 262-6, with James Barkwith, Thomas Pieters  and Charlie Halford-Nicholls all taking two wickets. Merstham struggled to get going in their reply, but some hard hitting from first Paolo Bertorelli (8) and then Charlie (top scoring with 21) at the end saw Merstham over the line, finishing on 286-4.

The following morning, Merstham travelled to Sanderstead for an even closer game, which went to the very last ball. Sanderstead batted first, making 261-3, with Sam Pemberton claiming two well deserved wickets. Ishaan Acharya helped get the visitors off to a good start with 10, before Thomas Pieters (5) and Charlie again (13) saw us home off the very last ball, as we made 264-5. 

This was a tremendous game enjoyed by both sides and one of which all the boys should feel proud of their efforts, as every player made a contribution with bat, ball or in the field to gain the crucial extra three runs.

Picture: junior action at Quality Street