HAVERFORD, Pa. - Haverford Cricket sought a return to winning ways in an away match against Merion this Saturday. Despite another strong performance by Haverford's middle and lower over, however, the Fords were unable to eek a victory, eventually falling 25 runs short of a winning total.

Fielding first, the match was neck and neck through the powerplay.  After scoring 31 runs off just the first three overs, first year Ishpuneet Singh was brought on to try and break the burgeoning partnership. Singh managed to do just that in his very first ball, with his pacy yorker getting the better of the batter, clean bowling them.  Singh Struck again in the eighth over when a poorly timed shot found its way to sophomore Joshua Corbett, who managed to complete a fierce catch. The second wicket helped the Fords keep the batting attack under control.

While Haverford's spin attack was able to stymie the run scoring through the middle overs to an extent, a 64-run third wicket partnership by Merion—including a blistering 71 by Merion's opener—would put the hosts back on top. Corbett would cause a breakthrough for the Fords again, this time with the ball, inducing a poor shot which would be caught by sophomore Mohanish Bajaj. Another late wicket would come from sophomore Sidd Phatak, who beat the bat with pure pace. Merion, however, managed to put up a formidable total of 171 for Haverford to chase.

 After Haverford's top order was dismissed cheaply, the Fords appeared at risk of suffering a blowout, sitting at 20-3 after the first 5 overs. Sophomore Deep Patel combined with Phatak to rebound and put the Fords back in the chase. Both Patel and Phatak departed in the 16th over, but not before pulling Haverford to a competitive 83-5, needing under 90 runs off the final 9 overs. The 60-run partnership saw Phatak smash a brisk 36 of 35, including 4 boundaries. Patel played a cautious 28 off 38, ensuring Haverford didn't lose another wicket cheaply while scoring his highest total of his career.

The chase was complicated by the dismissal of both set batsmen and the subsequent loss of another three wickets in the following four overs.  Junior captain Rebecca Stern joined Corbett at the crease. The pair would finish Haverford's innings in style, with Corbett dismantling Merion's death attack with a blitz of 27 off 20. Stern played a cautious innings, ensuring that Corbett would be allowed to continue his blitz and Haverford would not be bowled out prematurely.

Despite Corbett's blitz and Phatak's and Patel's massive sixth wicket partnership, Haverford finished their innings with 147-8 to Merion's 171-4, unable to repeat their victory versus Merion from earlier in the season.