Linley fifer edges Surrey over the line

Surrey have beaten Leeds- Bradford MCCU by 2 runs, after declaring overnight, and setting the visitors 315 to win, with Tim Linley claiming 5 wickets.

After his 91 in the first innings, Chris Adams obviously thought Tom Maynard had had enough time in the middle, when he declared this morning on 134-5, leaving Leeds-Bradford with a stiff target of 315 for victory. Tim Linley and Chris Jordan once again opened the bowling for Surrey, and were faced with a resolute opening partnership between Slater and Webb. However, Tom Jewell was brought into the attack and made an immediate impact, getting Slater caught behind with the score on 33. Jewell looking impressive again. Jordan then removed the other opener, Webb, caught by Linley. However, Leeds-Bradford MCCU managed to get themselves to lunch pretty comfortably just 2 down, with Bush and Leach playing well for the visitors. 115-2, with just 200 more to win.

Freddie van den Bergh made the breakthrough soon after the break, though, as he trapped the impressive Bush LBW for his first wicket of the match. Tim Linley, brought back into the attack, then removed Leach with the score on 146, Maynard taking the catch, and Surrey scenting victory. Reece looked good until, on 28, Linley had his second, when Burns took a catch, and Leeds-Bradford were 5 down for 184. The oppositions skipper Richard Moore joined Hodgson at the crease, and took their side to the tea interval on 201-5, requiring a further 114 for victory.

Surrey would have been hopeful of removing one of the batsman, and exposing the tail, early after the break. However, that didn’t happen. Moore and Hodgson both looked comfortable in the middle, finding the boundary with relative ease against some wayward bowling from the Surrey attack. Both exceeded in confidence, each striking maximums to take their side closer to victory. Surrey were struggling to find the breakthrough, until Tom Jewell came up with the goods, when he removed Moore for 37, taking the catch off his own bowling. Linley then had his second in the very next over, when he trapped Roebuck in front first ball. 269-7, and a tight finish on the cards.

The viscount then followed that up with another wicket in his next over, when Hardman was caught by Jewell for 5. 36 more to win, with 2 wickets left, and with Hodgson still in, both sides in sight of the victory line.

Chris Jordan then replaced Tom Jewell, and had instant success, when the dangerous Hodgson looked to pull the Barbadian, but could only find the viscount on the midwicket boundary. However, Higginbotham and Thomas got together and frustrated the Surrey attack, taking their side to within 3 of victory, with a last wicket stand of 27, before the viscount Linley claimed his 4^th First Class fifer, as he trapped Thomas in front.

Hats off to Leeds-Bradford, Adams and RHB dangled a carrot at them this morning and they really had a go at it. Even though Surrey came out on top, it was agonisingly close for the visitors. To be honest, it was too close for comfort for Surrey, who are obviously the far superior team, but the young men from Yorkshire showed that if you are slightly off your game, you can be punished.

The Viscount has found form just at the right time, and surely has cemented his place in the side come Thursday. However, we are still none the wiser with the opening batsman slot, with Jason Roy appearing the favourite, but Adams seems to like Jordan batting there, and he would obviously give an extra bowling option. Decisions, decisions, decisions. Not long to wait though, as the first squad of the season is due to be announced on Wednesday. I can’t wait!

Burns on Fire as Surrey dominate

Surrey have had a successful day on the opening day of the University match against Leeds-Bradford MCCU, with Rory Burns scoring his first First Class hundred, and reducing the opposition to 20-1 at the close.

The visitor’s captain, Richard Moore, won the toss and stuck Surrey in, in conditions which seemed to favour the bowlers. Stuart Meaker missed the game due to a stiff neck. Chris Jordan and Matthew Spriegel opened for Surrey, and with the second opener’s spot still available next week, they would have been trying to show what they have got.  Spriegel was the early aggressor, striking 2 fours off the second over of the match followed by Jordan who got in on the act, with some Caribbean-esque shots.

The score had got to 49, before Spriegel was trapped in front by the impressive Ivan Thomas for 13. Another failure for Spriegel, and looking less likely to be picked next week. Chris Jordan carried on his merry way, hitting an array of shots around the Kia Oval, and was joined by Gary Wilson. Jordan was edging towards his fifty, but before he could get there, Wilson was trapped in front by Reece for a 37 ball 6. Disappointing for Wilson, as the wicket keepers spot isn’t set in stone.

Soon after Chris Jordan did complete his 4^th first class fifty, but things just got worse afterwards. Jordan was bowled by Reece for 54, and Maynard joined the skipper at the crease. RHB was playing his usual way, only dealing in boundaries, until on 22, he edged behind and was gone. Yet another start, but no score of note. Then, two balls later, Jason Roy was bowled for 0, to leave Surrey 136-5 closing in on lunch. 4 wickets falling for 45, and another collapse. Tom Maynard was joined by Rory Burns and took Surrey to lunch 5 down for 143.

The pair needed to rebuild the innings, and they did that and more. They both looked at ease, with Maynard dominating the partnership, in a typically aggressive manner. He brought up his fifty off just 65 balls, shortly after the 50 partnership came up. Burns wasn’t to be outplayed though, gradually increasing in pace, and finding the boundary with regular occurrence. He went past his previous highest First Class score of 26 at ease, and brought up his first fifty off 92 balls, with 9 fours. Maynard had moved into the nineties, but on 91, he was trapped in front by Hardman, and the partnership was broken on 146. Good time in the middle for Maynard, even if it was an inferior opposition. Tom Jewell joined Burns at the crease, and they took Surrey to tea on 314-6, with Burns on 68.

Tom Jewell fell straight after tea though, for 18, Leach trapping him LBW. The Viscount joined Burns at the crease, and he looked good straight away, hitting back to back boundaries of his 3^rd and 4^th balls. Rory Burns continued from where he left off before the break, looking very comfortable in the middle. The partnership had reached 32 before Linley went, when he was caught for 15, and became Leach’s 4^th victim. Surrey 346-8. Freddie van den Bergh joined Burns and he also looked very good, regularly finding the boundary. Burns went into the nineties, with yet another boundary, and not long after, he reached his first First class century with a boundary of Thomas. It had come off 153 balls, with 17 fours, and he has really staked a claim for the opening championship game next week. Surrey immediately declared on 385-8, Burns finishing unbeaten on 101 and Freddie van den Bergh 16, his highest First Class score. A better batting performance from the boys, but RHB, Roy and Spriegs still disappointing, and need a score in the second innings.

Tim Linley got Surrey off to a great start with the ball, getting Slater caught behind for 4 in the first over. There wasn’t much more play though, as the fading light lead to an early close.

Overall, a good day for Surrey, who will be looking to push on tomorrow and gain a first innings lead against the inferior opposition.