Bore (winning) Draw in Surrey means 3s drop points.

Risman,, Lloyd, Crane, High, Cameron, Copeland+, Parkes, Taylorson, Noor, Laight. (10)

Another week where availability played havoc with the 3s selection saw Shyam fail a last minute fitness test due to measles, Doddy have to attend his antenatal class and perhaps the biggest loss, Chairman Keith Nicholls to a romantic weekend away. So 10 intrepid travellers set off for a game against 2nd bottom Merstham and arrived at a picturesque school ground just as the sports day awards were being handed out.

The pitch was a well worn, squishy and slightly moist green top with an extremely short boundary at the far end lined with trees and a square boundary bordering up to the car park and main school buildings that made the eyes of messers Crane and High light up.

Toss lost and with only 4 players on site we were asked to bat and Risman and Lloyd strode out to the middle with the aim of seeing off the openers whilst the cavalry arrived. The 2 opening bowlers produced some tricky late swing but it wasn’t long before the short boundaries were found. Lloydy looked comfortable until he holed out playing too early to a short wide one and Riso looked happy as Larry as he has done for much of the season. Crane put on a measly 4 on a day which looked suited to his explosive style, playing all around one that kept low, but his departure brought Monkey boy High to the crease and the fireworks began.
His innings was a a most un-Monkeylike composition of powerful boundaries (nine x 6’s in all) and elegant strokes which saw him race past Riso on the score sheet at a time when their tricky 2nd change bowler Young was bowling some impressive swing and causing us no end of problems.
Riso eventually fell a few short of his 50 and Jimmy C and High continued to crack on the runs until the latter fell bowled by Young for a mammoth 120 and Merstham gave a sigh of relief. Harry fell shortly after he arrived, playing over a floater to chalk up his first duck tax of the season and Parkes played some lovely strokes supported by the experienced Jimmy C at the other end but was bowled by the opening swing bowler for 9.The tail did as the tail is wont to do and wagged with reckless abandon to the 42nd over for 215 when the innings was closed.

Teas: Nice buffet selection with mini pizza’s, sausages, spring roles and the obligatory fresh sandwich selection. Tea was hot and strong but crucially served in a proper china cup and saucer. It makes all the difference trust me!- 7/10

At the interval, the oppo skipper suggested that we had given them a chance with 215 needed off 52 overs and considering the short boundaries and us having only 10 fielders he was right so the rest of the afternoon was a bit of a surprise really.
Muzzy and Jimmy opened and bowled with good control in conditions that were perfect for swing bowling but made the ball harder to control. Runs were restricted to only the loose balls and the oppo seemed happy to wait for them. Jimmy removed their left handed opener and star bowler Young cheaply with a nice inswinger that he inside edged onto his off stump and then it got interesting.

The number 3 came in and played and missed at Muzzy’s tricky left arm swing bowling for 3 overs before edging him to Copeland to snaffle behind the stumps but not only was he not given but there was no walking either. In fact when probed further by Crane in the slips (ATS) could only reply with expletives which continued until he was eventually despatched LBW to Noor and then again when he subsequently came out to umpire. The Merstam wickets then began to fall as Tun up and Parkes and then Laight came into the attack, with Parkes in particular unlucky not to get more reward beyond his bowling of the other opener, for some lovely line and length bowling. Kirky struggled a little for control but found his mark and had their number 4 caught and bowled though on reflection this looked like a bump ball if im honest, and then in the same over had their keeper caught by Monkey with a dream catch off his boot straps at gully.

With 20 overs to go the win was still on the cards and Skipper Lloyd threw everything at them, even allowing MOM Charlie High to bowl 3 overs of vicious pace and bounce to unsettle them but to no avail. I never though I would say this but we really missed the chairman as these two bats were resolute in defending for the last 20 overs even with all 10 players in catching positions as runs were not an issue for us.
With the Wick slowly losing the will to live at the lack of will and desire from Merstham’s batsmen, the game was brought to a close by their skipper running out to the middle with a look of glee waving a league rule book.
Sadly for him his eagerness to secure something from the game meant they fell 4 runs short of the extra batting point. Oh well!

Its a frustrating quirk of this league that you can be in the driving seat for much of the game,score big runs and there is no incentive to chase your score. Don't get me wrong, I dont blame Merstam, indeed if I was in a similar situation (as we were against old Tiffs the previous week) I would call for the blockers too but deep down I believe that things should be more cut and dry. You either get the runs and win or you dont and lose. I mean, who wants to spend all afternoon in a field laying bat on ball when surely cricket is all about the thril of the chase and the pitting of 11 men against 11 men to see who is better.
(climbs off soap box, rant over)
Next week brings another home game and the return of Chairman Mao to the fray so I'm sure my Corona will taste better after 20 points.
MOM- Charlie ‘Monkey Boy’ High for his 120 runs.