Fuller's League Division Two

Haslemere 235-3

Merstham 182

AN aggressive declaration by Haslemere, and a good over-rate in their reply, allowed them to go over their allotted overs and finish off Merstham, who looked like securing a draw.

On a good Quality Street pitch, Merstham asked Haslemere to bat.

Haslemere looked to be positive from the start, especially Eastment who went after the bowling of Hatton from the start and scored a quickfire 22 before being dismissed by Joe Shinners.

After this, Merstham had little chances against good batting. Clement and Gray built a solid partnership of 80 before Clement was bowled by Manish Patel for 38, bringing Williams to the crease.

With the Merstham bowlers grafting away and Haslemere batsmen determined and positive the partnership of the game was finally ended with the dismissal of Gray for 88 to bring about an aggressive declaration of 235-3 from 46 overs with Williams on 68 not out.

Merstham's reply never really got started as wickets fell regularly and they were left reeling at 65-4.

However, with Ali Pervaiz and Patel at the crease Merstham always looked like getting the innings back on track.

Patel (20) was dismissed lbw by Clement and Pervaiz run out in a mix up with James Parrett.

At this point it seemed a draw was most likely as the Merstham wicket was still playing very well.

Haslemere, however, had other ideas, and because of their good over-rate were able to go over the allotted 49 overs and dismissed the dogged Parrett for five only after some crowd pleasing strikes from Tristan Newton, who ended on 34 not out, but Merstham fell for 182.