Super Skipper leads Surrey to opening CB40 win

Surrey have comprehensively beaten Somerset by 105 runs in the first game of their defence of the CB40, with Rory Hamilton-Brown registering an outstanding century.

Somerset stuck Surrey in, and the surprise selection was that Jacques Rudolph missed out, with Zafar Ansari playing instead. As expected, Hamilton-Brown and Davies opened, and set upon an opening partnership which eventually turned out to be record breaking. The skipper hit a boundary off Trego off the first ball to set his side on the way. He and Davies complimented each other brilliantly, with each of them at their fluent best, and seemingly trying to outscore each other. The skipper hit the first six of the game, when he launched George Dockrell into the Pavilion.

Hamilton-Brown was also first to his fifty, coming in super quick time as usual. The pair continued to punish some wayward bowling from the inexperienced Somerset attack, and Davies followed his captain to a half century not long later. Hamilton-Brown hit an even bigger six once again off Dockrell, and was racing towards a sublime century. However, before he could get there, Davies was bowled round his legs by Trego, showing too much of his stumps and went for 72. A typical Davies innings, and in front of the cameras, he will be giving the selectors a nudge. An opening partnership of 163, the highest for Surrey against Somerset in List A cricket, beating Butcher and Clinton back in 86.

Roy joined Hamilton- Brown, and guided his skipper through to a fantastic hundred. It had come off just 87 balls, with 11 fours and 2 sixes. However, disappointingly he couldn’t kick on, as he held out at long off, trying to launch another six, and went for 101. Roy quickly followed him back to the Pavilion, as he tried to reverse sweep Waller and was trapped in front. However, on reflection, it was the incorrect decision as replays showed it hit his glove and not his pad.

Maynard and de Bruyn had to rebuild the innings, as well as keep the score ticking over. The pair began to build a partnership which could have taken the game away from Somerset, as they looked to get well over 300. However, in the space of 2 overs, Maynard was caught for 28, and de Bruyn bowled for 34. Spriegel and Ansari struggled to keep the momentum going, and after a couple of streaky boundaries, Ansari was caught behind for 10. Batty came to the crease with just 7 balls to go, but he managed to hit back to back boundaries to get Surrey up to 295-6 off their 40 overs.

The visitors’ innings never got going. Meaker got his side off to the perfect start when he made a mess of Kieswetter’s stumps in the second over. Davies winning the battle of the wicket keepers today. Jon Lewis picked up his first wicket in List A cricket for Surrey, when he grabbed hold of the ball as it looped off Peter Trego’s bat. Compton and Hildreth looked to rebuild the innings, but with the score on 76, Batty got one to spin inside Hildreth’s bat and was stumped smartly by Davies. Compton was looking in ominous form as he has done all season, but he went for 53 when Ansari held onto a sharp catch off his own bowling.

Suppiah soon followed, chopping on to Ansari, before Surrey got the big wicket off Buttler, as he got a top edge off Batty and Davies took a simple catch. The game was all but won for the hosts, as Somerset were 119-6. Meschede offered some resistance, before Batty bowled him to give the Yorkshireman his 3^rd wicket. He finished with figures of 3-37, and it was the best I have seen him bowl for a long time. Ansari picked up his 3^rd, when Waller missed a reverse sweep and was bowled. He also had bowled extremely well, claiming figures of 3-28 off 7, and Surrey will miss him at the Grange on Sunday.

Meaker came back on and finished off the innings, having Gregory caught behind, before bowling Dockrell to seal the win. Meaker picked up figures of 3-24, and showed exactly why England are looking at him. Somerset were all out for 190, and Surrey had won with some ease. A great performance from our boys, with everyone playing a part in one way or another. RHB deserves a special mention, as he has been in exceptional form this term, and if he keeps it up, a Lions call surely isn’t far away.

Surrey now travel to the Grange to take on Scotland on Sunday at 13:45. The Viscount comes into the squad for Ansari, as he has University commitments. A great start for Surrey tonight, and a perfect opportunity to make it 2 out of 2 on Sunday, but they must be wary, as Scotland won’t go down easy.