AMMIR Tahir took his best figures of the season as unbeaten Merstham rattled out another opposition quickly, on their way to another comprehensive victory, overcoming Newdigate's 110 at Quality Street for the loss of three wickets.

The Magics have won seven from eight games - the other rained off - in their 150th anniversary season and now lead the Fuller's County League Division Two by 31 points.

Merstham break new ground this weekend, visiting Trinity Oxley in Wallington on Sunday, in a new friendly fixture.

Before then, however, we are still looking for a couple of players for Saturday so if you are free please contact club captain Richard Feist, retro_rich@hotmail.co.uk or via the contact number on the club officers page. Games start at 1pm, so players would need to be at the relevant ground by 12.30pm. This is a great opportunity for junior players to gain an introduction to adult league cricket and to test your skills.

Ammar Tahir took his third haul of four wickets this season as leaders Merstham struck victory again in the Fuller's County League Division Two, this time at bottom team Warlingham.

The ‘Magics’ have won all six games they have completed in their 150^th anniversary season (the other lost to rain) and lead the title race from Chaldon.

Dear members

Unfortunately there is no opposition for the Sunday 2s this afternoon at Quality Street, but captain Bill Ash and his side are having a practice match and welcome anybody who wants to get in some action on the pitch to come down and enjoy some action and some tea.

Ammar Tahir’s excellent opening spell with the ball set the tone for a fifth win of the season as Merstham as they won by eight wickets against Wandgas, who were all out for 70 when the two teams met in the Fuller's County League Division Two.

Merstham took a fourth straight win on Saturday to continue to set the pace in the Fullers Surrey County League Division Two, but their league cup adventure ended in the last 16 on Sunday.

On Saturday at Chobham, Naveed Saeed’s side were asked to bat by their hosts and were all out for 151 from 42.2 overs.

This season's fixture cards are now available in a box behind the bar at the club.

As is the nature of these things, fixtures change after publication, particularly for cup games.

None of Merstham's four league teams saw meaningful action on Saturday, which meant Sunday's Matthew Lewis Memorial Shield match at Quality Street became an even bigger focus for the club.
It was the fifth year the match had been staged against Mogador Wanderers in memory of Matthew, a former player for both sides. But it was the first year it was staged as a fundraiser for charity.
Burgers, sausages and a raffle made about £600 for the Winston's Wish charity, which helps bereaved children, young people and their families, offering support and guidance. Other items will be auctioned at a later date, possibly in Reigate Priory's cricket week.
Matthew - the son of former Merstham chairman, life member and vice-president Allan - died from a heart attack in December 2009, aged 41.
On a soft Quality Street pitch, thanks to the previous day’s rain, the hosts batted first in the 40 overs a side match.
Merstham batted solidly with all contributing, notable performances came from S Bowry, scoring 34, and Gus Locke, scoring 23.
Mogador Wanderers bowled well with Andy Tharp taking 3 wickets for 38 from 8 overs and 2) Joseph Lewis, Matthew's brother, taking 3-26 from 8 overs. The last wicket fell on the last ball of the innings, Merstham scoring 166 all out.
Following tea, Merstham took the field with Chris Clayson (2-15 from 6) and Bobby Sharp (1-17 from 6) opening the bowling and seeing off the openers for under 20 runs.
Mogador’s Ben Fairclough came to the crease, hitting some very long sixes, eventually scoring 55 runs. Fairclough was ably assisted for a short while by Matthew's son Oscar, aged 10 (who plays for Sussex U10s coached by Matt Prior), scoring a very cultured 7 runs.
Andy Tharp joined Fairclough and knocked up 32 before being dismissed LBW by Bowry (2-16 from 4). Gus Locke also bowled very well for the hosts, taking 2-22 of 8.
The match came to a last ball climax, with the Mogs requiring five runs for a win from the last ball of the innings; the pressure got to Lithon Tarofder who bowled a no-ball and the visitors stole an additional run, bringing them to 164, however, Mogs’ Joseph Lewis failed to connect with the final ball bring victory to Merstham.
The Matt Lewis cup stakes are now 3-2 in Mogs' favour, Merstham are hoping to draw level in 2015.
More details about the charity can be found at www.winstonswish.org.uk/about-us/ where donations can also be made.
The Sunday seconds also enjoyed a victory, after a jaunt through south London in a borrowed minibus up to Blackheath cricket/rugby/tennis/chess club for a game arranged through the Cricket Conference after Merstham’s original opponents pulled out of a game at The Ring.
It was the only time many of the players are ever likely to play in front of a stand which could seat 200 people and the game was played on a lovely flat, drying pitch played on a true surface which had been protected by full covers.
Upon arrival, the host captain generously announced to Merstham skipper Bill Ash that as Merstham were the guests, we could choose whether to bat or bowl, without the need to toss a coin.
Having already sought the views of his team beforehand, Ash had no hesitation in asking the hosts to bat in the 40-overs-a-side match.
Merstham set about their task efficiently, with Liam Powell taking 3-17 in his 4 overs (1 maiden), accounting for batsmen one, two and four.
A patient innings of 47 from P Ford helped Blackheath amass 119 from only 37.4 overs, Ash (4 overs no maidens 1-12) almost apologetically taking the number three batsman’s wicket lbw late in the innings.
Merstham rotated the bowling, using seven in the attack, with Sumair Qasim taking 2-12 off 5.4 and James Lowe retaliating to being swiped for four by the Blackheath skipper by delivering a forceful reply next ball to bowl him out. Bharat Sahani was most economical with 1-6 off 6 overs (1 maiden).
In reply, Powell’s steady knock of 32, including five fours, set a platform for victory, but while the scoreboard ticked up the wickets fell with worrying regularity.
Powell was the sixth wicket to fall, with the score on 60, in the 17th over. He left James Lowe at the crease, who forged 29 to almost put Merstham over the line.
Stephen Prior also compiled nine, including a run having hit the ball and sent his bat flying to midwicket. Lowe fell lbw to Ford in the 22nd over with the score on 105.

Then, with nine wickets down and five runs needed, Terry Garrett survived one ball of what proved the penultimate over, before Ash nudged a four and then managed a single to finish on 14 not out, giving the visitors victory by one wicket.

To celebrate our 150th anniversary Merstham Cricket club would like to collect memories from its members, past and present.
There are now two albums - one at Quality Street and one travelling with me - for you to write about your involvement with the club. Alternatively, you could email me your memories, including words and pictures. We might even get them up on the website!
A ‘100 years of cricket’ booklet (now hanging framed on the wall) was published in 1964, but this project is planned as a more detailed snapshot of history, for people to look back at in, for example, another 50 years.

We would welcome your favourite memories from down the years of how you and your family have been involved. Perhaps your father or grandfather played here. Perhaps you played junior and senior cricket.

Please write something about your time at the club, long or short. Feel free to go away and think about it and bring back documents and pictures of players, teams and activities past. If you have pictures of memorabilia such as signed bats, hats and shirts, please feel free to include these too.

Everyone is welcome to contribute – junior players, senior players, parents, retired players, social members or tea 'ladies' (or men, who we know supply this service too!).

Please detail your involvement. Begin with your name and the year you started playing and let the memories flow! Please include which teams you have played for within the club and if you have served as an officer, captain or coach, the dates if you can remember.

Details could include your favourite moments on the field, who you played with, which of your peers went on to play for the county or elsewhere or simply describe how much the facilities and club have changed.

Pack your tales with facts - and add in a little colour about how much you have enjoyed playing at Merstham CC.

Please leave your contact details tucked in with your contribution - our 150th anniversary celebrations are attracting interest from local media (don't worry, we will liaise with you over this!). We also plan to put the memory book on display at our anniversary dinner - where we shall try to collect more memories.

Ian Lamont
Information manager 
Merstham Cricket Club

There are some fixture changes for May 24 and 25.

The Saturday fourth team now have no fixture, because opposition Epsom Woodcote conceded, meaning Merstham benefit to the tune of 13 points.