Chipstead & Coulsdon 166

Horley 133 all out

With almost a full 1st X1 squad available Chipstead beat their near neighbours by 33 runs at Horley Row in the season's opener.

Clark (47) top scored for Chipstead and he was ably supported by Hattingh (34), Watson (20) and Hirst (16) in their innings.

Horley bowlers George Banks and Harry Chaudhary both took three wickets for 32 and 17 respectively.

New skipper Ed Long weighed in with a brace as the hosts restricted Chipstead to 166 all out from 44.4 overs.

In reply Horley lost openers Kirkham and Perrow early in their innings, Fizal Nadir also went cheaply before Chaudhary (17) and skipper Long (46) settled to add 48 for the fourth wicket.

Thereafter the Horley innings succumbed to the spin of Brewster 4-24. Woods, Barber and Hirst all gathered a scalp after Nobel took the three early early wickets in five overs for six runs. An under strength Horley were dismissed for 133 in 39.3 overs.

Merstham 146-8

Horley 149-7

Runs were at a premium at Horley Row in this 40 overs a side friendly. E. Loader for the visitors’ top scored with 52 as the hosts kept their opposition in check by restricting them to just 146-8 from their allocation.

Patel (24), Robson (12) and Powell (10) were the only batsmen to attain double figures as each of the eight home bowlers bowled well.

Trevor Stevens and Ed Long bagged a brace whilst Matt Perrow and Stuart MacPherson were the other successful bowlers. Two run outs were to ensue as the visitors innings faltered.

Each of the Horley top five registered a double figure score with Stu MacPherson (49) leading the chase.

Openers Lewis Tomkins (29) and Dave Hyde (20) got the hosts off to a fine start and the momentum continued through MacPherson and George Hyde (12).

Horley ran out fairly comfortable victors as Trevor Stevens and Ed Long saw the hosts home with a three-wicket success.