SURREY VS MIDDLESEX SPECSAVERS COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP

First topic message reminder :

SURREY HAVE NAMED A TWELVE MAN SQUAD FOR THE SPECSAVERS COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP GAME AGAINST MIDDLESEX AT LORD’S STARTING ON THURSDAY.
Aaron Finch will play his final game for Surrey before heading to Sri Lanka to join Australia’s Squad for the upcoming One Day Series. Tom Curran returns to the squad after missing the last Championship game due to him playing for the England Lions in the Tri-Series against Sri Lanka A and Pakistan A.
There is no place in the squad for Jade Dernbach,Gary Wilson,Arun Harinath, Matthew Pillans or James Burke
while Matthew Dunn keeps the treatment table busy.
The Surrey squad to play Middlesex in the Specsavers County Championship at Lord’s on Thursday 4th August, Friday 5th August, Saturday 6th August and Sunday 7th August:
Gareth Batty (capt)
Zafar Ansari
Rory Burns
Sam Curran
Tom Curran
Steven Davies
Aaron Finch
Ben Foakes
Mark Footitt
Stuart Meaker
Jason Roy
Dominic Sibley
Will it be Footitt missing out again or is it time for one of the curran boys to carry the drinks?
Over to you chaps

Meaker bowls Compton for 11 - Middlesex crawling along at 45-2 off 20 overs

Ansari breaks a stand of 80, dismissing both Gubbins and Malan. FIrst batting point. 144 - 4.

Batty gets rumpole

249 - 5 off 79 overs at the close.  In the end a bit disappointing that Surrey weren't able to get a couple more wickets. On the other hand we haven't let the scoring rate get out of hand The new ball tomorrow will be key.  Sam Curran bowled 9 somewhat expensive overs; can't help wondering whether a mistake not to play Footit.

Yeah this match seems to be heading towards a draw - Middlesex managed to consolidate after the two quick ansariforengland wickets

I wouldn't be in too much of a rush to write this match off as a draw. We should know more at the end of today - moving day, where are you, Carlos?

Went along yesterday and going today too. There's something for everyone playing in this match. Batters have batting weather, a short boundary and at the moment a reasonable track; how and if it changes is going to be key. That said, the ball is not getting up much - I blame that more than Millns for the seven lbw decisions against us - and Sam Curran with his low, whippy action action should have tkeen advantage of it. The track is also showing signs of taking spin - both Batty and Ansari bowled well and could have taken a couple more.

Tom Curran started impressively but, even with lunch in between, 12 overs on the reel was too many and he was never again as probing as in his 6 over pre-lunch spell. Meaker was fast - watch what he did to Compton's stumps albeit with a deflection - but suffered from the short boundary and a few wayward deliveries.

Today the seamers are going to need to bowl better and the spinners are going to need a tad more fortune. Middlesex bat very deep - Toblerone Jones is averaging over 50 this season and Murtagh is probably the best number 11 in the county game. We also don't want Rayner cashing in with the ball later on. As I say, all thinf still possible.

Btw, Footitt and Dernbach were at the ground yesterday and giving it everything at lunchtime.

Sam Curran bowls Franklin early on - 251-6

And Sam gets Simpson LBW for 58 - Middlesex 266-7 and a good start to the day for Surrey this

And another LBW for the youngest Curran as he gets Toblerone Jones for 7 - Middlesex 274-8

The elder Curran gets Harris for 8 - Middlesex 284-9

And Sam Curran picks up Rayner for 8, four wickets for him this morning and Middlesex are all out for 293

Surrey lead by 122 after the first innings - in firm control of this game

Ideally would like to build a lead of 375ish and have a half hour at Middlesex tonight...

Well - obviously I was wrong to suggest that Sam Curran should have given way to Footitt.  Cracking bowling. .  After a solid start we've just lost 3 wickets in 2 overs. No bad thing if the wicket starting to play tricks - but a lead of 169 is not that huge - by any stretch.

And now Finch goes - four wickets for no runs.  This is a spectacular collapse!

Davies scores a single.

First innings lead 122, openers get us safely to 47 second dig: guess we're thinking already of when to declare and force that all important win. What could possibly go wrong? We don't even need a Plan B, do we!

Oh, hang on a sec...

Afternoon all

Rayner gets Davies again

And now Roy

Great partnership with Curran and Foakes....who has really impressed these last few weeks.....lead now 300...I suspect that caution will prevail (and quite rightly) and we will,build as big as lead as possible and not declare this evening....and maybe bat on a bit tomorrow as well...to avoid any prospect of losing the match....

50 for baby face

100 partnership

Lead goes past 350

50 for Foakes

now over to guildford for his view from the ground

Corporalhumblebucket wrote:Well - obviously I was wrong to suggest that Sam Curran should have given way to Footitt.  Cracking bowling. .  After a solid start we've just lost 3 wickets in 2 overs. No bad thing if the wicket starting to play tricks - but a lead of 169 is not that huge - by any stretch.

.... and now sounds like excellent batting from Curran as well! *asks waiter to bring couple of slices of humble pie.*

Exceptional partnership from Curran and Foakes to arrest the collapse - I'd bat for 6/7 overs in the morning and then declare - sounds negative but not losing kinda has to be a goal as well as winning - especially with full batting and bowling points already secured

I'm with Olly on this. Have a quick dash first thing then ideally set Middx 380-400 in 80 overs. We should more likely bowl them out on a fourth day pitch (with three decent frontline seamers and two quality spinners) than see them chase down +/-400 at around 5 an over.

jimbobgooner wrote:now over to guildford for his view from the ground

Another cracking day - lovely weather, good and sometimes tense cricket plus a festival at the ground!

A terrible wobble by Surrey early afternoon but a wonderful start and finish to the day which leaves us well on top. All results are still possible but I reckon we'll win. The wicket isn't cracking up and still looks in pretty good condition - I managed to get a look because, as ''a special concession'', spectators were allowed on the outfield at lunchtime. However, quite a few balls were keeping low as the day wore on and even Rayner seemed to be getting some turn at times. All that should especially suit Sam Curran, Batty and Ansari tomorrow. Middlesex have form for chasing down scores this season but I feel the wicket, the quality of our bowlers and our lead will be too much for them.

Unlike yesterday, Sam bowled really well this morning and made the most of his low, whippy action. He mainly kept it on the stumps and lbw successes followed. Wonderful banana type ball as well to clean up Franklin. The wicket I was most taken with though was when Harris fell to brother Tom. Harris nicked hard and high to the slip cordon. Roy at 2nd leapt and couldn't hold on but pushed the ball even higher up. Whether that was deliberate or not I don't know but he definitely had the presence of mind to then step back and allow the ball to be taken as a gift by Davies at 1st as it came down. Purely a personal thing but I really liked that.

Our old foes Toblerone Jones and Rayner looked as if they were going to spoil our party but Foakes and Sam ensured otherwise. Excellent batting by both - grit and determination to begin with so as to prevent a total collapse and then, once we got to 178 and the lead up to the magical 300, lots of quick singles plus a few nicey stroked boundaries (particularly from Sam) to increase our advantage.

My guess is that they'll carry on for a small number of overs in the morning to try and increase our lead by, say, another 25 runs. We may have more than enough already but unlikely to be any harm for us in making their target stiffer. In line with Chichester's post, it would be extremely disappointing if we declared too soon and ended up losing a match we've largely ruled. Also, as often said, it'll hack off the opening batsmen to have to go out and field, then dash off and just ten minutes later be out there batting.

One other thing. Will Middlesex actually try to chase the target ? I think they would like to and will do provided they make a steady start and they keep enough wickets in hand. However, if a few wickets fall with them some way short, I expect them to shut up shop rather than try to win at all costs. The impression I got from their captain Franklin bowling himself so much (circa 10 overs) late today was that he was more concerned with limiting our lead than taking wickets. That doesn't mean he won't want his team to go for it when batting but it did suggest a somewhat safety-first approach. Them shutting up shop also doesn't mean we won't win.

Excellent report Guildford.  Really good to see so many Surrey players coming into form at the moment. Middlesex will undoubtedly want to look for a win, which is why I don't think we should make the target too easy for them.

An excellent report from Guilldford!

Another excellent report from Tim Wigmore on Sam Curran's day too - http://www.espncricinfo.com/county-cricket-2016/content/story/1043449.html

Very much enjoy his writing

Just on my way to venture North of the Thames to attend day 4 with SoS Junior. Anyone else be there?

Hi Simon - I won't be there today - 3 on the trot would have been pushing my luck too far with Mrs Bat - but trust you and SoS Junior have a good time and see the win. I sat immediately underneath the Media Centre as it was easy from there to get shade or sun as wanted. Cracking view as well as you would expect. There were also more Surrey supporters than Middlesex there.

I had a couple of golden ales both days at the beer festival, recommended although I appreciate SoS Junior is a skilled professional in that field. Btw, you need to buy vouchers before buying the drinks - sad git that I am, I took considerable pleasure in seeing two Middlesex Hooray Henrys being turned away having queued a good 5 minutes for drinks!

Now now Guildford. We all think it, but...

On the field Surrey set Middx 391 to win off 90 overs. Roy drops Gubbins off TC

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:An excellent report from Guilldford!

Another excellent report from Tim Wigmore on Sam Curran's day too - http://www.espncricinfo.com/county-cricket-2016/content/story/1043449.html

Very much enjoy his writing

Cheers, Olly and you too, Corporal.

Yes, I also like Wigmore. Pleased he - and Foakes in his interview - seem to share my views on the track. Good start on it today. A few quick runs as I thought and now a wicket for TC following the declaration. 9 to go ....

Declaration prompt this morning. Currans dismiss both openers.  Pleased that Gubbins has gone - dispite his name he's not just a bits and pieces player.

Batty doesn't bowl this morning but Sibley does!

And very nearly gets a wicket as Compron sweeps into a space near square leg. Typical of his innings, a masterclass on uncertainty. Both batsmen also have survived loud appeals for catches behind. Not sure what's going on. Middx doing ok, but have been incredibly lucky to reach lunch just two down.

guildfordbat wrote:Batty doesn't bowl this morning but Sibley does!

I just don't understand his captaincy at times I really don't - he's our best spinner!!

Two quick wickets to Zaf after lunch and keen fielding has seen the runs dry up: Zaf & Norah Re strangling Middx at the moment.

Zaf picks up Simpson now as well - Middlesex five down

125 - 5 with 45 overs left. Bailey and Franklin putting together a bit of a stand (47*)

Meanwhile Hants have been able to enforce follow on against Lancs - but that match still looking odds on a draw. Hants need 10 wickets in 46 overs.

Game now fizzling out towards a draw with Bailey and Franklin playing well

174 -5.  Bailey and Franklin batting for over 28 overs.  Middlesex need another 215 runs off 27 overs. Draw strongly odds on, unless Middlesex suddenly lose a couple of quick wickets. It seems fairly unlikely that Middlesex will now have a go at the target and risk losing points for a draw.

Rumpole and Aretha showing all their experience

Finally, Ansari breaks the lengthy partnership which occupied 51 overs,  but too late of course to have any chance of winning the match. As expected, Hants have drawn their match.

Simply not good enough yet again

jimbobgooner wrote:Simply not good enough yet again

Think this is very harsh Jimbo - Middlesex are a very good side, and whilst we couldn't get over the line against them today, to outplay them across the four days is encouraging

Pulled further away from Notts and gained on Warks/Durham this round so far

Yeah, come on JimBob, cheer up.

A bit disappointing we didn't pull off the win - I really thought last night that we would. I didn't follow today's play so can't properly say why we didn't although I expected Sam and Batty to get more than one wicket between them. However, we should be encouraged by having got the better of a draw and taken maximum bonus points away to Middlesex. They're not the leaders of Division One by luck.

The important thing now is to reproduce the form shown in this match in the remaining weeks of the season.

As Guildford says, Middlesex are a good side - they are the only side unbeaten in Div 1. 

Next round of cc matches starts on Sat, including Notts home to Hants while Surrey are away to Warks.  Our performance against Warks in the cc earlier in the season was very, very poor.  But hopefully we can carry our much improved recent form into that match.