Merstham 262-5 tied with Newdigate CC 262-5

A tie in cricket is a rare event. The Newdigate U11 Colts however did just that in this thrilling of East Surrey Colts League matches played against Merstham at their Royal Alexander and Albert School ground, a more picturesque venue one could hardly find. On losing the toss Newdigate were sent into bat on a lovely June evening and skipper George Warne immediately set about the Merstham openers striking the ball to all corners of the ground. His chanceless 27 not out gave his Newdigate teammates a wonderful start. Merstham though battered had other ideas and whilst bowling erratic at times kept the normally free scoring Newdigate batsmen tied down with regular wickets falling. It was left to last pair Oliver Turner (7 not out) and debutant keeper Jack Butler to drag the total to a respectable 262-5 with a good partnership. At the break Merstham undoubtedly felt victory was in their grasp and by the 12^th over at 251-0 it was hard to argue with their conviction. Whilst Newdigate fielded as sharply as ever and bowlers James Bennett, Wilfrid Hoad, Frankie Shipton, Jacob Vaughan and Jacob Purcell all bowled tidily, wickets failed to materialise. The game of cricket as we know can change all too quickly, and so it did here once again. In Quentin Hoad's maiden over a smart run out ensued, visibly lifting the visitors and following the return of George Warne (3-0-12-1) and Tom Quigley (3-0-3-2) to the attack several more wickets followed in succession thus pulling the game back from the brink. Epitomising the Newdigate energy in the field was Butler's tidy keeping throughout, Bennett's determination to continue upon taking a hard knock on the ankle and Jacob Purcell's exciting “bear hug” catch in the covers that gave Quigley his second wicket. Opener Oliver Turner (3-0-14-1) struck with a wonderful ball in the penultimate over, bowling Merstham skipper Speller and suddenly Newdigate looked to have stolen the game. The final over however saw yet another turn of fate as not to be beaten Merstham's Will hit out with successive fours and a double, levelling the totals with just the final ball to bowl. Right on cue though an excellent final ball yorker from Warne put paid to any scurried single and the game remained tied, a fitting result it had to be said. The supportive spectators were rewarded with a wonderful game of cricket played in good spirit by these two local competitive teams.