Season ends with Liverpool draw

After his century yesterday, Zander de Bruyn only hanged around for a further 25 minutes this morning, before Procter picked up the first of his 5 wickets today, getting the South African for 125. Batty was then out for 0, and after a rain break, Procter finished off the innings quickly, as he removed Jewell for a career best 70, before removing Tim Linley and Jon Lewis to finish with figures of 7-71.

After lunch, Surrey had an opportunity to give Tom Jewell and Matthew Dunn a bowl, as the game slowly made its way towards a draw. Batty rotated his bowlers, and they all kept it tight but failed to pick make a breakthrough. When Dunn came on, the runs started to flow more, as he looked rather rusty against two set batsman, going at 8 an over for his first few overs. However, it was Dunn who got the first wicket, when he bowled Luke Procter, just after the hundred partnership was brought up.

Jewell got the other wicket to fall, as he had Tom Smith caught by the skipper for a well made 43, as the teams shook hands at 4.30, with Lancs 142-2.

So a predictable end to the season, thanks largely to the weather, but there were a few good things that came out of the game. Zander de Bruyn has finally scored a hundred this season, and if he can produce his end of season form for us next year, it will be a big help. Tom Jewell batted extremely well, and bowled tidily, reinforcing the opinion that he should have been given more of a chance this season. The Burns-Ansari partnership is coming along nicely, even though Ansari hasn’t got a big score of late, with yet another 50+ score put on by the pair. I’m not totally convinced Zaf will make it as an opener, and feel that Harinath will eventually open with Burns.

Hopefully Adams wasn’t basing whether he will offer Dunn a contract or not on this performance, because I feel that would be unfair on the lad, but he hasn’t had a great year in the second X1, so anything could happen. Jon Lewis tailed off towards the end of the season, and I wonder if he will still be here next year, and the Viscount hasn’t played too many games after his great year in 2011, and there will no doubt be plenty interested in him if he becomes available, especially in Division 2.

Overall, it hasn’t been a great season for us, on and off the pitch. Obviously a very emotional season as well with the passing of Tom Maynard in June, but I believe our players will feel better after a winter break, and come back better next year.