Noman the man again for Merstham

Chertsey 178, Merstham 180-5

A sparkling unbeaten century by Noman Javed steered Merstham to a five-wicket victory at Chertsey on Saturday.

The Magics showed their true potential, having slipped to third bottom of the Surrey Championship Division Five in their debut season, by defeating their second placed hosts.

Asking the home side to bat, Merstham struck early, taking three wickets with just 45 on the board, before Dave Risk (38) and Greg Burton (41) put on 39 for the fourth wicket. Risk then became the first of Radhul Madhok's three victims, (3-27) and Burton top scored before being removed by Joe Benson (2-22).

Merstham's reply began slowly as they lost two wickets for 20 runs scored, with Joe Shinners joined at the crease by Javed. Shinners had struck 34 by the time he was caught, leaving Merstham 76-3, and three other batsmen more or less watched a masterclass from one end as Javed powered to 108 not out. The measure of Javed's contribution was that Benson, who joined him at 100-5, was not out on 11 at the end of an 80-strong winning partnership.

The second team (pictured in action, thanks to Harry David) had no such luck at Quality Street, failing to chase 213 to win and falling 110 runs short.

Cheam chose to bat, Niall McManus, the No 7, top scoring with a stubborn 57 and eventually being the final wicket to fall, caught and bowled by Ameer Pasha (2-48). It had been a frustrating afternoon in the field, in which the pick of the bowlers was Imran Aslam who took 5-39 from 14 overs.

Merstham got off to pretty much the worst possible start, Ashar Syed caught with the score on one. Wickets fell regularly, including three within the space of two runs to leave Merstham 51-6. No 8 Justin David top scored with 26 not out, closely followed by 10th batsman Neil Maplesden's 20 as the hosts were dismissed for 103 from 35.3 overs.

The third team were all out for 109 at Chipstead. The top four all made double figures, but only captain Zeeshan Murtaza went on to make a notable score, of 38. Omer Shuja (1-18) struck an early wicket but by the time Jack Letts got the second there were 103 runs on the board. Merstham tried seven bowlers but Chipstead took victory by eight wickets.

Amid the chaos which was the fourth team's day of cricket, a calm star emerged in the shape of Anand Pratap, who took 5-29.

The hosts opted to bat, but wickets tumbled, skipper Gopa Nair (17) and James Harrison (12) showing glimpses of their potential in the middle order. Sathya Premkamer, who rarely plays as his young son's cricket takes priority, struck a lovely 19, some of it with late arrival Saif Islam who finished on 10 not out as the team could only muster 88 in 36 overs. 

With the first four bowlers being unable to take wickets, matters started to turn in Merstham's favour when spin twins Avinash Malhotra and Pratap took an end apiece. Old Wimbledonians lost three wickets in the space of six runs, Pratap taking two wickets in his first over. He had to wait five more overs for another wicket, but, with the pitch offering plenty of movement, then took two more in another over.

Malhotra might not have taken more than one wicket, but he only conceded four runs and five of his nine overs were maidens.

Match reports are brought to you in conjunction with our sponsors.