Match Report - Merstham vs HWRCC 3xi - by Selvesy

"Selvesey joins the rest of the team for tea on Merstham's outfield" - Ed

HWRCC 3xi 220 for 5 off 45. Clements 63, Byrne 57
Merstham CC 3rd XI 211 Aqeel Ilyas 3 for 27, Fahad Tanveer 3 for 54, Charlton E 3 for 36
HWRCC Wins by 9 runs
Singh, Risman, Ratnage, Selves, Aqeel, Fahad, Laight, Charlton, Byrne, Clements, Linter

Scorecard

As the 3rd XI surveyed the outfield of the first away league match of the season, the pleasures of playing on the main square at the WICK last week were a long way away. The opposition informed us that the game was moved to this ground because someone had in essence stolen their pavilion at the other ground. The fact there was also no pavilion at the new ground was something the boys pondered as they padded up after the invite to have a bat on the other side of the small hills between the boundary and the square.

The wicket had a nice grass cover that looked like it might do a bit, and it did in the bounce department. Ratnage got one and the catch was held. This turned out to be a bit unfortunate for Sam as the fielding then took on the consistency of the outfield (lumpy? - Ed). Risman and Singh took to building a healthy start with some good running against the poor ground fielding and some punishing hitting. Risman then got an assisted LBW from their umpire and then in the thirties Singh let one through.

Byrne and Clements set about building on the good work and kept the score ticking over. At 150 for 3 off 35 the 3s looked to have banished the demons of the batting collapse the week before and built an innings in the way Boycott would be telling them was perfect cricket if the TMS team had got lost while thinking they were walking on the south downs and found a cricket strip in amongst the hills. Byrne and Clements then opened up with some great hitting to finish off two composed and punchy performances and at 220 off 45 Captain Singh called the boys in and they had a picnic in the foothills.

The Wick took to the field and if the batting was a 100% improvement on last week the fielding went the other way. There were quite a few dropped catches throughout that would have put this game to bed, but then that would have ruined a nice story. Fahad and Aqeel opened up with lively spells getting good bounce and tickling the odd face guard. Neither bowler is however afraid to hit the furniture and both gave the stumps a whack and Merstham were 3 for about 15 after great opening spells for the two new Wick bowlers. It is about 15 because there was no scoreboard.

Selves came on up the hill for Aqeel, watched a catch go down then watched his line desert him and received some punishment. When their number five avoided being caught again Selves asked him for his lottery numbers and took a blow thinking of Jimmy C and a week being a long time in cricket. Then in the strange yin and yang relationship that has developed between Selves and Charlton’s bowling (never both take wickets in the same game) Charlton came on down the hill and looked the money. A few words with their lucky number five and a caught and bowled saw the Wick break the one partnership that looked like it could take the game from them. It was a great spell from Charlton that saw three fly past slip somehow not finding a pair of hands. Ratnage came on up the hill and Charlton continued his desire to be involved in every ball as Merstham’s opening bat swept every ball to him at square leg. Byrne offered to go stand in the openers face and when Singh said ok he realized he meant it. It is yet to be decided whether it was more impressive that Byrne nearly took a catch from a full pull about two meters away or the that he didn’t flinch when one hit him full on a few balls later.

Despite the wick proving they had the harder players Merstham were doing a sneaky ticking along of the score board, made all the more sneaky by there not being a scoreboard to tick along and their scorer taking about an over to work out the score when asked. Linter came on down the hill and continued the aggressive fast bowling of the others. Linter tucked up the batsmen and just as things were looking to be hitting a stale mate Linter forced an early shot with a quick ball and Aqeel took the catch running backwards with the ball flying over his head.

Singh didn’t let the new batsmen get comfortable as they started blocking out and rotated the bowling bringing Aqeel and Fahad back into the attack and both picked up wickets wrapping up great starts to their promising Wick carriers as Fahad caught low to his left off Aqeel.

With one wicket to get in 8 overs the Wick looked to be on for the win as Charlton and Linter came back for some more with Merstham needing 36 odd to win. A couple of top edges flying for 4, a dropped catch and a number eleven who did a quick Chris Gale impersonation and it was squeaky bum time for the Wick. But the boys held their nerve and with 9 runs left to win Merstham’s luck ran out and the top edge flew high down to Ratnage at fine leg. There was a long pause as that ball came down then a lot of shouting as the 3s recorded their first league win. Pleased to say Sam’s heartbeat is just returning to normal.

If the 3s field like they did week one and bat like they did week two anything is possible this year and the composure and support of each other in a game that somehow became a nail biter shows great team spirit for some tough games to come.

MOM this week was Fahad. Nathan says:

It is a tough call but I am going to go with Fahad for three wickets and a great catch. He would have picked up more wickets if catches were held.