Birthday Boy Roy sets draw alight

As expected, the LVCC Division One match between Nottinghamshire and Surrey at Trent Bridge has ended in a draw, but the game was set alight by a wonderful 83 by Jason Roy.

After the second and third days were washed out, and with Notts 178-5, it looked difficult to somehow work the game so that a positive result could be found. So the hosts carried on batting, with Read and Voges comfortable at the crease as the bowlers, especially Jordan, tried hard but with no success.

Lewis made the breakthrough when he nipped one back at Voges and trapped him in front. Phillips then put on a partnership with his skipper to gain a 3rd batting point, but Read was bowled by the impressive Meaker, 2 short of a much deserved century.

After Andre Adams and Phillips had a bit of a thrash, Meaker removed them both caught in the deep to claim a fifer. A great effort from Meaker, even if it wasn't in a winning cause. Kartik finished off the innings to claim his first wicket, Notts 328 all out.

As they did at Guildford, Burns and Ansari opened up and built an excellent opening partnership. Both looked assured at the crease, as Burns brought up his first Championship half century, taking Surrey to tea 82-0.

However, Ansari went soon after the break when he was bowled for 32 by Carter. Shame he couldn't kick on, but a promising start from Zaf. Jason Roy came in and started to counter punch, trying to take his side to a first batting point. But he lost his partner, when Adams bowled Burns for 79. A great innings from the Banstead keeper, and hopefully there will be more to come this season. 

Adams was really finding his rhythm, as he had de Bruyn caught for 0 and Davies for 2, as Roy was losing partners. The young man from Durban really started to fire, as he hit Samit Patel for two consecutive reverse swept sixes, yes two consecutive reverse swept sixes! Unbelievable skill and strength. But very next ball he was stumped by Read as he fell 17 short of a superb hundred.

Spriegel came and went for 17, bowled by Adams as he tried to force the issue and get to a second batting point before the close. Jordan and Meaker took us to that second batting point, which could be important come the end of the season.

So once again the weather has let us down this season. After finally having a good first day in the Championship, the next two days are washed out so we couldn't force a victory. That means that we have still only won one game this season, but there are plenty more positives from this than there were at Guildford last week.

Even though Meaker seems to leak runs, he is a genuine wicket taker, and it was good to see him mop the tail up like he did. Jordan looked good on the first day, as did Linley to some extent, but I don't think they have done enough to keep Batty and Tremlett out again. A main positive is the opening partnership, where Ansari looked solid as always, and Burns is finally showing the form he has produced for the 2's this year.

But the shining light of the afternoon was definitely Jason Roy, whose innings of 83 off just 50 balls included 8 fours and 5 maximums. He was disappointed that he couldn't complete his second First Class hundred, but I thought it was great to see him back at his explosive best. A very happy birthday to the 22 year old, who if he bats like that regularly, has a big future ahead of him.

We now have almost a week off, before we travel to Edgbaston to play top of table side Warwickshire. It’s going to be a tough game against a strong opposition, but we have to believe we can come away with a positive result and creep away from the relegation zone.