U14 Falcons reach cup quarter-finals

Merstham’s Under 14 Falcons beat Dorking U14s in the first round of the ESCL Cup in a re-arranged match on Monday 4th June.

Dorking won the toss and elected to bat, their opening batsman making 12 off the first over before Merstham’s opening bowler Ed Cecil claimed his wicket with the last ball of the over.

Dorking continued to pile on the pressure, scoring a further 34 runs until the next fall of wicket in the seventh over, taken by Jude McRobbie.

From there on, tight bowling and fielding from Merstham saw a steady stream of wickets taken; another by Jude, two from Matt Greaves, and one each from Max Anderson, Matt Retter and Ben Clements. Dorking reached 102-7 in their allotted 20 overs.

With a total of 103 to reach before the gloom of the evening really affected visibility, Merstham made a slow start. After four overs they were 16-0 where as Dorking had been 35-1 at the same point. Merstham’s cautiousness paid off as confidence grew and the runs started to add up.

Boundaries, byes and overthrows saw 15 runs taken during the fifth over and opening batsman Noah Young and Ed Cecil had a partnership of seventy one runs before Ed was caught behind for 32 in the 11th over. Matt Retter joined Noah at the crease but two overs later Noah was bowled for 18.

Jude joined Matt who made a quick-fire 22 and Merstham reached their target in the 15th over, to beat Dorking by eight wickets.

Merstham now meet Capel in the quarter finals of the ESCL cup on 7th June.

Merstham U14 Falcons: Max Anderson, Liam Barry, Ed Cecil, Ben Clements, Theo Elliot (wicket-keeper), Matt Greaves, Jude McRobbie, Matt Retter, Luca Retter, Harry Younan, Noah Young (captain)