MCC 2   v   Merstham Athletic 3

So our new adventure kicked off and the first thing was trying to get 5 players on the pitch as everyone seemed keen to be the first to rest:). We finally kicked of and with the solid Dave Neal in goal we started of well and and the majority of the openning exchanges, and if not for James Lowe in the opposition goal we may have found ourselves in front. As the half continued JL came back into the game and an unfortunate slip let in the opposition for the first goal, This rocked the MCC 5 and a second came via a deflection. MCC kept playing their attacking football hoping that the long ball game would work using the height advantage of Vincent and Hughes!!! and just before half time a neat lay of from Freeman Set Rich up to blast MCC back into the game. Second Half was much of the same with MCC not quiet finding their shooting boots and a sharp counter atttack led to JL's scoring their 3rd. Though after this MCC dominated and were unlucky not to get one back when Darren was judged to have equalised from inside the area!!! but with a couple of minutes left MCC were awarded a Penalty and the cool Peter Crouch, MR vincent stepped up to send the keeper the wrong Way:) but despite hitting the post late on James Lowe side held on for the Win.

As a club we made significant progress in both player availability and Fullers League placings. At 2nd XI we were never out of the top six and were unfortunate not to finish higher than 5th as rain intervened in the end of the season fixtures.  Scoring runs appeared more difficult for most teams and we were no different with our final position based on our bowling performances.  We passed 200 runs in an innings only twice while we bowled out the opposition in seven out of twelve matches.  Ray Shinners followed up his 38 wickets in 2006 with another 34 @ 13.97 and his economy record in over 200 overs at under three created considerable pressure to opposing batsmen. Asim Asraf was our most improved bowler with 12 wicket @ 23.42 while Mike Wadsley was a real bonus for the captain with his looping leg spin earning him some crucial wickets in his 12 @ 16.58. In his first season Manish Patel topped the teams aggregate number of runs with 268 runs @ 33.5 but only Neil Maplesdon cleared two hundred plus runs (233 @ 22.3) in the season.

Club availability on the first league day of the season was good away to Guildford. We felt we needed more runs after being inserted on a wet track and reached 190+ thanks to a good stand from Razzaq (24) and Patel (42 on debut). Guildford were well on the way to victory when a middle order collapse left the gate open and Ray Shinners picked up the last three wickets (4-70) for a win we didn’t expect.
Our next match saw another win to set the season going. Ewhurst were undone  at Quality Street by one of our best batting performances of the season with Neil Maplesdon top scoring with 58 in a first innings declaration of over 200. A third wicket stand was our only problem as wickets fell regularly in a 55 run victory.
May finished in frustrating fashion. At home to Long Ditton we reached 179 with more runs for Maplesdon (38) and Razzaq (76) after an early wobble (20-3) and despite rain and unadventurous opponents we had them eight wickets down – a winning draw was little compensation.

June started with our first defeat away to Merrow. Again an important toss was lost and we were inserted and scraped together 134 with Razaq (26no) again our outstanding batsman. Despite an excellent bowling response crucial early catches were dropped (and more during the innings !!) as we lost by only four wickets to the eventual League winners.
A big improvement was needed and the following week away a struggling Worplesdon & Burpham side were crushed by 6 wickets. Phipps won the match with a dogged 52 at the top of the innings with Maplesdon (33) collecting more runs.
The rains then intervened throughout the rest of June. Westfield at home was washed out despite most of the Division completing matches. The following week we played at home to Effingham in atrocious conditions when no one else played and at the end of the month our match at (later promoted) Hampton Wick was lost (along with everyone else) to rain. Against an enterprising  Effingham we were unable to contain a late burst as they reached a formidable 169 on a wet and deteriorating ground. In 46 overs we finished a bedraggled 24 runs short in a losing draw with Maysey on 41no.

July started sunny with Merstham still in fourth place at Carshalton & Croydon Gas. Here we earned our best win of the season chasing 223 to win, Ashraf  hitting a six for the winning runs with six deliveries left. Earlier it was Patel who set up the win with a magnificent 98 – including six 6’s, ably supported by Spencer’s first 50 of the season in a 3rd wicket stand of 111.
If that was our high point of the season we fell to earth the following week away to Wangas. Put in we were blitzed by excellent bowling – all out for 83. Only three players reached double figures and in reply our opponents showed us how to bat to win by an emphatic 9 wickets.
Struggling at the wrong end of the table Old Tenisonians were excellent opponents the following week. Inserted they collapsed to 53 all out, losing ten wickets for 28 runs as Merstham won by 8 wickets.
July finished with Merstham in third place and another win, this time at home to Old Suttonians by 3 wickets in a tight match. Inserting the opposition on a damp wicket only some positive hitting late in the innings gave them a defendable 124. Merstham were halfway home when a middle order collapse was turned round by a Captains innings of 24no to win the game with time running out.

August started with vice-Captain Tom Humphreys in charge away to Old Hamptonians and against impressive opponents Merstham did well to avoid defeat. On a very hot day our opponents posted the ball all around the field for 236 – catches spilled yet again proved costly. We struggled against accurate bowling to finish woefully short with wickets in hand, Bobby Sharp scoring an unbeaten 50 lower down the order.
With a week of we resumed against promotion chasing Lingfield and did really well until the rain intervened before Tea. Bobby Sharp bowled outstandingly and Shinners got his first 5 wicket haul of the summer but again we allowed lower order batsman to clobber us for runs. Both the 50+ runs and more importantly overs probably cost us the win as we reached a positive 40+ with no wickets down in deteriorating weather.
August finished with our traditional fixture at home to Southbank. Asked to bat first in what turned out to be our last fixture of the season a total of 177 set a platform to win the match, Dave Mann scoring 75no. Three early Southbank wickets and the barricades came out and ultimately we did well to get opponents nine wickets down for a winning draw.
The season ended poorly despite the maximum points with Haselmere unable to raise a side and conceding the game.

Neil Maplesdon ended the season as the teams Player of the Year. Joining the team from the 1st XI his consistent runs at the start of the season gave us an important platform. Just as importantly was the stability he offered the team as wicket-keeper over the season. Also thanks to Tom Humphreys in his first season as vice-captain.

I thought it was about time I thanked all of the players that represented the 3rd team this season. We know that all the time on the field we tried our best even if we dropped too many catches on occasions and got out to silly shots.We finished 9th out of 14 teams and we know we were better than that. I don't remember anyone ever being critical of my decisions or any player doing anything else apart from playing with enthusiasm for the game that we all enjoy. I could recall individuals, but now is not the time.[Look at the statistics on play-cricket.] Everyone that played knows that we had a good time and it is hard to better that team spirit. Thanks again and I sincerely hope that  I see most of you at the Dinner and Dance and in 2008.

Posted in the Photo Gallery.

We finally reached the end of the long season with a fun night of celebrations. The fare of fish/sausage and chips was arranged by Bernard assisted by Sylvie and Clare and not a lot was left over.The weather held out and games were played into the dark of the night while parents and friends looked on.                                               u9 player of the year was Adam Butt   most improved Hasseb Queeshi  u11 player of the year was Jon Deans  most improvedAthaven Bosch                                                                                                                                 u14 player of the year Liam Powell  most improved player Ben King    u15 Player of the year Jonny Ellis  Most improved player Humza Jabber.    u17Player of the season Bobby Sharp.   Most improved player Viggie Palaniapan.      u13 to follow

Sorry for the late entry .....St Josephs  the local school in Linkfield Lane on the 15th June  won our local Asda Kwik Cricket Competition run by Daniel Feist and co. at Quality St and a prize of a trip to the Oval .... A good crowd of parents and friends enjoyed some Oval hospitality courtesy of Asda were all were jumping for joy after their amazing placing of 3rd in the overall final... Playing against some very tough opposition from cricket playing schools they batted and bowled superbly, not many of our seniors can beat this surely playing on the hallowed ground.. Most of the team play regular for Merstham and are are a product of Bob Gary Daniel Chris Ian Joe etc etc( sorry if Ive left you out)  going out into the local community on cold and damp days at the start of the season.....A case of the few doing their best for all of us members....

YES ITS AUGUST AGAIN...    15/15. The MCC favourite comp.is on again it all starts with the best bacon sarnies in Surrey for 1200 the club will have a get together the younger ones call it bonding. If you were lucky to play in it or watch well you dont need me to tell you again so pass the word around and please register in the clubhouse or get in touch with D.or R. Feist in the usual way. Bring your friends and family a great day is assured       

Phil Pearce who most of us us know as the dad of Andy our popular Capt. of the Sun. 2nds has been providing a BBQ most Summer Sunday evenings. Now with some nice times ahead come and socialse with burgers etc all top quality....Please support by coming down with your friends and family all very reasonable prices clubhouse bar open. All profits are returned to the club SEE YOU THERE. 

At this stage of the year the youth section are playing their last games. Everyone has enjoyed some part of it.....lack of Sunshine and cancelling or rearranging lost fixtures  took up lots of precious time which involved committee groundsman and managers .....The u14 did very well finishing 3rd in the league just after been beaten by Lingfield at Quality St. in one of the best bowling efforts Merstham Youth teams have put on no names here but it will be told on Presentation Evening.  U9/11 Thurs 6th Sept arr. at 6pm for a 6.30 start.       U/13/14/15/17 Fri7th Sept arr. at 6.30pm for 0700start..Details contact Michael on the site by preference or tele my home no.  See you all there. 

Sunday 22nd July, and Lord's Cricket Ground played host to 4 stalwarts from the other MCC, as Messrs Shinners, Mann, White and Howarth turned up to watch the 4th day of the 1st test between India and England.

Not for the first time this season, your correspondent was late turning up, but the vastly experienced opening pairing of Shinners and Mann provided a stunning opening partnership, safely putting away 2 bottles of champagne before lunch, as 3 wickets fell. As lunch approached and Kevin Pietersen moved smoothly through the gears into the 60s, the MCC moved smoothly onto the Pinot Grigio, whilst Shinners was less than enthusiastic about the quality of his M&S fallafel and feta cheese. Meanwhile Mr Howarth set a new world record for the longest lunch hour ever taken (probably a trait of lawyers everywhere), as he disappeared just before lunch and reappeared well into the afternoon session (without any additional drinks - a schoolboy error).  Luckily, he was in time for a Pietersen cameo, as KP smashed the Indian bowlers around, to reach a quite brilliant hundred.
By now, Shins was into full captaincy mode, advising Dravid on the best field placings, whilst comparing England's players to Merstham's: Prior's late cut being reminiscent of Mapplesden at his very best, whilst Pietersen's leg glance looked similar to our wily 2nd XI captain himself. Sreesanth's double tea-pot also got a mention.
As the England innings flagged, so did the MCC. R.P. Singh's bowling was taking its toll on England's lower order, and Howarth's bottle of Bordeaux was certainly taking its toll on the MCC boys, with Shinners repeatedly searching in vain for his M&S salmon & cucumber sandwiches, only to be told that he'd actually eaten them 15 minutes earlier.
The change of innings produced a change of approach from the MCC, moving onto the beers, whilst your correspondent was still in awe at the sight of Sir Geoffrey Boycott himself walking past him outside the Mounds Stand. By now, the change of approach had clearly affected Shinners, who announced that he didn't see the fall of the first Indian wicket because "it was such a bad shot" - one assumes he therefore hasn't seen many MCC 2nd XI wickets fall this year either.

Overall a very fine afternoon, some superb cricket, and Pietersen's ton being one that will live long in the memory. Though quite how those memories were on the Monday morning is somewhat uncertain.

Here's to doing it all again next year