U13s win one and lose one: junior round-up

U13 Eagle (ESCL) Win In Style Against Second From Bottom Woodmansterne

Merstham U13s ESCL team chalked up their third win of the season on a beautiful Friday summer’s evening away to Woodmansterne. Merstham won the toss and captain Eva McLeod decided to bat first.

Brothers Charlie and Theo Rumistrzewicz opened the innings and quickly settled into their stride knocking up a partnership of 47, when Theo was bowled out on 22.

The runs continued to come for Merstham, with Charlie retiring not out on 30, having hit five fours and acquired the rest of his runs in singles. Having lost their second wicket at 61, Merstham put on 79 runs before Matt Greaves danced down the wicket and hit the ball straight to a Woodmansterne fielder.

Matt had reached 29, hitting two sixes and three fours. Partner James Cripps had worked equally hard and was caught six runs later. New batters Eva and Ben Clements ran well together, with Ben putting on 18 runs as Merstham reached 164-4 from their 20 overs.

Woodmansterne’s best bowler managed to slow the run rate, with only one run scored from each of his two overs, plus one bye. Merstham’s terrific batting performance was bolstered by a large number of wides, a fast outfield and a few misfields.

With a target of 165 to reach, Woodmansterne got off to a slow start as opening bowlers Aditya Chougule and Theo restricted the flow of runs with Theo bowling opening batsman for one in the second over. As Woodmansterne gained in confidence they managed to get nine and ten runs off a few intermittent overs which was reigned in by Merstham, as the second over from the offending bowlers were tighter and more controlled.

Once Woodmansterne’s top batsman retired not out (on 33), the wickets fell at regular intervals with Theo taking a spectacular catch from James’ bowling. Ben took two wickets in the 13th and 15th overs to continue what is so far an excellent season for him. A generally excellent team wide performance of tight bowling and fielding meant that only eighteen extras were given away and resulted in Merstham winning very convincingly by 64 runs.

Merstham Lose At Home To Horley

On a scorching hot Sunday morning, Merstham were home at Quality Street to Horley for an U13 ESCL match.

Fielding a similar team to Friday’s win away to Woodmansterne, Merstham were always in for a tough game as Horley are fighting for position at the top of the league. Horley won the toss and put Merstham in to bat.

With temperatures soaring in to the mid-20s by 10am, opening batsmen Charlie and Theo Rumistrzewicz managed to put on 81 runs by the 13th over, when Theo retired not out (30). Horley then claimed two quick wickets, leaving Merstham on 84-2.

A few overs later and a heat affected Charlie joined his brother in retiring not out (30). Horley’s bowlers managed to peg back the run rate with Merstham’s incoming batsman who struggled, managing some quick singles before reaching 112-6.

Horley’s opening batsman, county player Zac, took advantage of the pace of Aditya Chougule with 18 runs from the first over, two of them fours and one six. A few misfields by Merstham in the second over gave away nine byes, accelerating the score. Horley clearly were on a mission to speed up the match and escape the heat and by the fifth over, Zac retired not out having reached 30.

Merstham tightened up their fielding, reducing the extras and two overs later Charlie claimed the first wicket at 61-1. Horley’s other county player Aryan continued to hit a series of spectacular fours until he too retired not out - again reaching exactly 30. New bowler Thomas Markham (drafted in from the U12s) successfully slowed the run rate with his two overs as Horley reached 102-1.

Pick of the bowlers was Mehul Datta who completed a wicket maiden, complimented by Liam Barry’s wicket in the next over - Mehul then claimed another scalp in his following over. But despite Merstham taking three wickets for seven runs in three overs, Horley reached their target of 113 half way through the 15th over.