Surrey Cricket Championship | ECC Week 11 Report

Welcoming Merton to Effingham, the 1st XI lost the toss and were asked to bowl first.

Although Effingham were able to restrict the away side in the early exchanges, Merton were able to string together solid partnerships at the top of the order, with their opening batter anchoring the innings with an assured half century.

Despite this, Merton never fully hit their stride, as a well rounded Effingham bowling performance, with the majority chipping in with wickets and none of the attack going at over five-an-over, ensured the away side were never out of touch.

Freddie Dougherty starred with the ball, picking up 3 for 47, while Finn Starkey and Alex Cooper made light work of the tail, bowling Merton out for 212.

A tricky chase for Effingham started off poorly, with both openers ending up back in the hutch, leaving the hosts 12-2.

Although Jordan Bond (34) and Harrison Green (39) steadied the innings, adding 74 for the third wicket, a calamitous collapse saw the Ships slip from 86-2 to 95-8, making the 87 run loss an inevitability for a side still in touch with the battle for promotion.

Second XI

The 2nd XI fared better in their must-win trip to Shepperton, and upon winning the toss and bowling first, immediately made the most of this decision.

Opening bowlers Nick Bond and Ishtiaq Muhammad gave their top order very little to work with, and upon each of them removing an opener apiece, Muhammad tore through the top order of Effingham’s relegation-threatened rivals.

Muhammad, following a match-winning performance with the bat last week, exhibited excellent control with the ball, and thanks to some excellent fielding to support his effort, was able to pick up his first five-wicket haul for the 2nd XI (5 for 33).

Reduced to 57-7, Shepperton wrestled their way back into the fixture with some rearguard action led by Laura Cardoso (32), a Brazilian women’s international cricketer and Guinness World Record holder for the best T20I figures on record, setting the Ships a chase of 138.

In response, James Blair (30) and Adam Burlison (18) got the 2nd XI off to an assured start, before a flurry of wickets reduced Effingham from 47-0 to 93-7.

While nervy in the Effingham dressing room, Jack Jones (22*) and Muhammad (23*) were able to counter attack to brilliant effect, adding a brisk 45 run partnership for the eighth wicket to make it two wins in as many games as the 2nd XI climb closer to safety.

Effingham 1st XI 125 all out lost to Merton Mavericks 1st XI 212 all out by 87 runs

Effingham 2nd XI 138-7 beat Shepperton 2nd XI 137 all out by 3 wickets