David Swan provides the latest of his Coach's Blogs, reflecting on last night's U14 ESCL Cup victory over Reigate Priory at Reigate Pilgrims' ground in Betchworth.   It's been a long time between drinks.....from a silver CUP.   Greenest wicket we've ever played, so when Reigate Priory won the toss and chose to bat, we had a head start. Initially, some time was lost with a change needed to the under-sized stumps. Matt Evans, back on form, bowled very well, unlucky not to have a wicket in his first over. But un-nerved, he went on to bowl two maiden overs in his opening stint.   Ben Jones had more luck, with a wicket in his first over, per favore a very good catch by Alvin Sathya which boosted everyone's confidence. Merstham kept Reigate to a very low run-rate with the opening bowlers followed up by Daniel Botma and Zohaib Faisal....only 11 runs from the first five overs before Zohaib struck in the sixth with what was the catch of the match.....Alvin (again) at short mid-off (diving head-long forwards).   With the third wicket, in Zohaib's second over (c&b). Priory were reeling at 22-3 after eight overs. Never to be under-estimated, Priory took the upper hand and were starting to take the initiative.   Still only three down for 61 after 13 overs....and looking a little bit dangerous. A much-needed wicket, clean bowled, from Oliver Barkwith and the tide turned again in favour of Merstham.    Joe Stapleton struck in the 16th over and then one of those unimaginable direct hits by Charlie Parkes, who had removed his wicketkeeper glove, chased the ball down, turned for a blind throw, and, with the batsman caught well short (well, short enough, anyway), claimed a great run-out wicket.   RP's innings finished at 102-7 (20 overs). For a CUP final, definitely defendable, but also beatable.   Merstham's batsmen were warned, the pitch was still seaming and very variable. It had helped us, but it was going to help them too!   However, a somewhat uneasy, and certainly not chanceless, opening partnership of 60 was surely setting Merstham up for a win.   Then Alvin went for a big shot and missed. Bowled for 31 by a short and unpredictably very low bouncing ball (it was the right shot for another pitch and another day!). Jasper Parsons came in and was struggling against the conditions, with six swings and six misses in one over, but he was still there, while Adam Swan at the other end was trying for a more exciting finish by putting another shot down the throat of the same fielder who had previously dropped Alvin and was still gracious enough to give Adam another chance too.   To their absolute credit, Adam (40 not out) and Jasper (9 not out) stood their ground, played the next balls on their merits and had us coasting to a well-deserved victory in the 18th over!      Where we won it: In the field with good fielding, good bowling, and a well thought out field placement.   MOTM: A toughie, Adam's unbeaten 40, but in the end I have to go with Alvin's fielding and opening partnership.   Congratulations to all the squad, and for those players who were unavailable, or rested, it was MCC's U14 win. Thank you for the support on the night, and Jane for the scoring, and John for the congratulatory beer.  I knew that this season was going to bring some joy.   David Swan

To celebrate our U14s competing in the East Surrey Colts League Cup final this evening, we publish coach David Swan's blog which marked them winning their semi-final.   The game this evening starts at 6pm and is against Reigate Priory at Reigate Pilgrims Cricket Pitch, Old Road, Buckland, Betchworth, RH3 7DS. All supporters are welcome. "Sorry, it was so long ago, I can't remember the last time we lost a match. Tonight, we put ourselves into the ESCL Cup final!   Alvin Sathya captained the team, won the toss, gave all players a bowl and really tried, very hard, to give everyone a bat!   It was a Cup match and from the outset, we were sharp in the field, thanks to some tight bowling from our classic opening pair, in Matt Evans and Ben Jones. But it wasn't until Daniel Botma took out their opener and their first drop, that Coach was feeling confident. Newdigate's run rate continued to be contained,,,,"a dot ball is a good ball" was the cry.   While Botma had taken out Newdigate's top two batsmen, Alvin then struck with a clean bowled, and Newdigate were three wickets for 31 runs after 8 overs. Of course, wickets will fall through effluxion of time, but what was crucial tonight was to keep the run-rate contained, and the boys were very slick in the field tonight.   Wickets apiece to Stapleton, Chakravati, Kite, Faisal, and Swan. But what brought Newdigate's innings to such an early end was Will Broughton's bowling of two wickets for six runs in his first (and only) over (he would have loved and deserved a second over, but a victim of his own success) and Newdigate were all out for a seemingly beatable total of 65 runs.   At the change and there was speculation that 10 runs per over (refer our win against Dorking) and we should be home by the time Dad/Mum puts the dinner on!   Not to be. Newdigate played a very conservative "line and length", and tight fielding game. Some less than focussed batting saw Merstham at four wickets for 15 runs after seven overs. At this rate, we were looking a little bit shaky, but I have to say, Daniel Kite was showing maturity, concentration, confidence, and stamina, only to be unluckily run-out for 34 in the 15th over, after a partnership of 40 runs with Will Broughton.   Charlie Parkes came in (not yet hit one, let alone seven runs on the floor) much to everyone's expectation, and is dropped off his first ball.... A valuable eight runs nonetheless, before being caught at mid-on. Will B. presented a solid, and determined innings of a critical 14 runs off 27 balls, before being caught...after a much-needed partnership with Daniel K, and a truly stalwart performance.    Zohaib and Alvin polish off the remaining runs needed for victory....and on to the final against, wait for it.......Reigate Priory.   The boys won this match in the field, with way better bowling than we have seen in recent matches and still stronger fielding practices. This performance gave us the leeway we needed in our lapses of concentration in batting, to be able to win ourselves a bonus fixture.   Congratulations to ALL the squad. Who was that winning coach who said: "I have a good feeling about this season." (ref. 22 Jan. 2019) ?   MOTM: Daniel Kite.

With The Ring back in action, Merstham U13s faced local rivals Salfords. Captain Max Yates won the toss and elected to bat first.   Two exceptional innings by Yates (29 balls, five fours and one six) and Rowan Smith (30 balls, five fours) saw retirements at 30 runs by both. Tanay Patel then helped get the home team to a great final score of 134-4. Salfords never looked like reaching their total, with some great bowling by Merstham.     Man of the match Flynn McRobbie took three wickets in four balls, including one caught and bowled. Other wicket-takers were one each for Connor Thorpe, Rowan Smith and Yates.   Merstham were also sharp in the field with catches taken by wicketkeeper Josh Kenny, Patel and Thorpe, and run-outs attributed to Yates, McRobbie and Dinuk Jayamanne.   Max Yates after his innings which set up Merstham's great total

Merstham first XI were eager to get back to winning ways after last week’s dismal display away at Kempton and with The Magics sitting just one place above the relegation zone in Surrey Championship Division Five, a win on their travels to Weybridge Vandals on Saturday was imperative to get their season back on track.

Despite losing the toss in what looked to be bowler friendly overcast conditions, Merstham were confident of posting a competitive total to allow the best chance of bowling out the Weybridge side.

Despite keeping Kempton to a score that looked achievable given their previous batting exploits, Merstham's first XI couldn’t continue their winning habit in the Surrey Championship Division Five, losing by 137 runs.

The third team were asked to bat at RA&A School after the game at The Ring had to be switched, because of an invasion of temporary tourists.

UPDATE: Junior training tonight has been cancelled, as well as our World Cup Fun Day, planned for this Friday at junior training, being postponed because of poor weather forecast. 

The World Cup Fun Day, to celebrate England hosting the World Cup this summer - including barbecue and games - will now take place a week later on Friday June 14.

Three of Merstham’s Saturday sides earned victories last weekend, with only the fourth team falling short, by 23 runs.

Merstham’s first team began Saturday eager to follow up from their first win of the season against Hampton Hill the previous Saturday. Horsley & Send were the opposition on a sweltering afternoon at Quality Street.

Captain Laurie Nicholson’s Merstham took their first win of the season on a historic day for the club - they fielded a fifth team on a Saturday for the first time.

Ed Dawson led the way with 120 against Hampton Hill in the Surrey Championship Division Five, finally falling as the eighth wicket on 210. A partnership of nearly 100 with Simon Rivers (37) was the most profitable partnership along the way.

Merstham Cricket Club have made history in May, with girls teams playing official league fixtures under the club's name for the first time, at U14 and U11 levels.

Previously around the turn of this decade, girls fixtures had been played for Merstham, friendlies against Lingfield and Caterham when leagues were not accessible.

Merstham then blew away Woodmansterne for 80 all out with the ball, openers Asim Ashraf (2-7) and Aslam (3-22) bowled with skill and aggression, with the only resistance coming from the opener Matt Joyce. Ben Carter eventually removed Joyce for 25 and mopped up the tail with on his way to a superb 4-6 in 6.1 overs.

Technically, the fourth team won - on Thursday when Alleyn conceded, bringing 20 points.