Fair weather a good looking track a very long boundary and only 9 of us at the toss meant I really needed to win the toss and bat and hopefully get our last two players to turn up before we had to field. Well we won the toss and thankfully Freddie (finished his D of E in time)and young Eden (brother of Kyan) were able to get to us in time. The oppo were only 10, with their 11th not turning up.

Following on from his maiden 50 last week Cam opened with seasoned campaigner Dave Spackman, with orders to take it steady and build slowly. Well it certainly was slow but thankfully steady as well as no chances were given. However the score did seem to stay static for long periods before they both started to move it along against the change bowlers. At drinks we were only on about 50, but with plenty of wickets in hand they started to go for it and within a few overs we 70 and Cam then went for the big one and thick edged to point on 40 ( another good score to follow his 50 and could possibly have been more with stronger running). Dave was joined by Dom and they both moved the rate to >5 an over, but the long boundary took its toll on Dave as he ran out of puff and was run out on 44 with the score on 128. Mr T (season debut) now joined Dom and the rate went up to >7 as Merstham worked the bowling changes to try and hold them back. Dom was in full flow now with one over going for 15 and Mr T dusting off his sweep as the score went into the 180’s. Mr T then missed one on 22 and left Brooky about an over before we closed on 194-3 (Dom an excellent and timely 60* and Brooky on 2*).

Tea arrived literally in the nick of time, but it was worth the wait. Very nice – thanks Chris.

For our fielding, I mirrored the batting, as we had a young charger in Dale matched with the ever young Brooky at the other end. This proved to be a very miserly pairing as virtually no runs were taken. What was taken was a superb catch at gully which shocked everyone, including myself as I rolled back the years and hopefully showed the youngsters that their skipper still has something to offer. Brooky went on the reel off 6 maidens on the trot before a marginally loose ball was hit for 2. Brooky ended a fabulous spell with figues of 9-6-1-8. Now whilst Brooky was going for no runs, Dale was not giving many away either and was causing the other opener to play and miss >20 times but with no luck in his first 6 overs or the last one. Cameron and Freddie were next up and it was Cam to strike first with Dale taking the catch to dismiss a very dogged opener. Freddie who was only too pleased to get a large ruck sack off his back bowled with good pace and when he found his length he beat the bat and finally struck in his 5th over to bowl an aggressive batsman on 24. Cam was not finished and claimed a further 2 wickets both ct, their skipper by Dave Spackman and one by Dan behind the sticks. Merstham were starting to push the score 70ish and had their dangerous keeper in at bat who punished us in the last 2 matches so we just needed to nip him out to put us in the box seats. So its Coco time and within an over the bat is on his way back to the pavilion, still wondering why he played at such a beautifully flighted, away swinging, full length delivery that he lobbed to the very safe hands of Dale at extra, (a couple of drops saved you all from some serious crowing). It was now time to see what the young Pickering brothers could do; Kyan first up with his leg spin and once he got the ball coming out how he wanted, he proved to be too much for the oppo as they really struggled. Kyan’s first victim was the hard hitting young bowler (who should have been higher up the batting order) who sent another (3) catch up for Dale who was showing us just how safe his catching is. Young Eden who had been fielding at BSqL and saving many runs was now in the attack and is a very slippery medium pacer. He bowled a good line and length and was unlucky not to take a couple of wickets, but he left these to his bigger brother who finished them off with one ct by Dom in the covers and the last man bowled to leave them on 145 all out.

Special thankyou to Lisa for getting Freddie to us in time and scoring and to Kyan’s Mum for all the toing and froing to get Eden to game as well.

Another great win for Dorking IV, 4 on the trot now and equal top of the league, well played everyone. Dom will be skippering next week, so please support him and keep this run going.