Exiles produced a club record-breaking 221 run victory over Merton at the John Innes rec on Sunday to get their fist victory of the 2015 season.

On being put into bat, a superb partnership of 129 between openers Drew Scott-Dawkins (45) and Will Clephane (77) set the perfect platform. And with a side full of batsmen, the run-rate did not let up, as Jasper Searle (47) and Craig Williams (48*) added a further partnership of 94 to see the Exiles finish on 274 for 4 from 40.

The only note of caution being the jug-avoiding behaviour of the 3 Exiles batsmen who made it into the 40’s without reaching their half-centuries.

After tea, it was the bowlers turn as Andy Wingfield (4 for 13) and Ammar Akhtar (2 for 7) reduced Merton to 18 for 6 – aided by some fine catching (at times) from Clephane, the returning Keith Roberts and Bernard Leuvennink. Leuvennink (1 for 3) and Johnny Aloysius (2 for 29) finished things off as Merton were all out for 53.

This was Exiles record ever victory batting first – beating the 183 run margin against the same opposition in 2008.

Next Sunday sees the derby game against Agricola, at Haydon’s Road.