SURREY VS ESSEX SPECSAVERS COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP

First topic message reminder :

Surrey have named a 16-man squad    for this week’s Specsavers County Championship match with Essex, starting at Chelmsford on Tuesday.
Ollie Pope returns to the squad while Young wicket keeper/batsman Jamie Smith is also part of the travelling party.
Jason Roy and Jade Dernbach still remain on the treatment table  
Baby face is still away saving England
FULL SQUAD:
Rory Burns (captain)
Gareth Batty
Rikki Clarke
Tom Curran
Dean Elgar
Ben Foakes
Arun Harinath
Will Jacks
Conor McKerr
Stuart Meaker
Morne Morkel
Ryan Patel
Ollie Pope
Jamie Smith
Mark Stoneman
Amar Virdi
No need for a 16 man squad unless the food really is that good at Chelmsford.
Pope in for jacks obviously but will Jacks get in instead of Patel?
The rest of the team picks itself
Over to you chaps  

Tom Curran traps Chopra LBW. 16 - 1.

35 - 3. Westley and Lawrence back in the hutch. Two wickets for Tom Curran and one for Rikki Clarke.

Will Surrey have to bat again....3  runs needed to make them do so with 1 wicket standing...

Surrey set 2 to win.

Somerset would be nervous about getting that

Tea interval. Essex all out, leaving Surrey with task of 2 runs for victory - or one for the tie! Pity we couldn't get the innings victory, but it was a spirited rearguard action by the last couple of Essex wickets.

Right - strictly no drinks to be dispensed until Surrey have banked the points, but I'm taking orders now!

Afro wrote:Surrey set 2 to win.

Somerset would be nervous about getting that

corporal

Afro wrote:Surrey set 2 to win.

Somerset would be nervous about getting that

great post Afro! Your boys have had a good season...and in other circumstances could easily have won the championship..you clearly have some very talented players....Corporal, make mine a double!! Sounds like another great performance from the lads..pitch was clearly getting easier to play on as the match progressed....Worcester up next :

43 points clear looks very nice

If my maths is correct, we need 30 points from the final three games to secure the title (and that is presuming Somerset take maximum points from their remaining games)

The old lady is warming up her voice...

Olly - another very strong performance. You're right about the 30 points. Realistically it needn't be as many as that as Somerset are very unlikely to get a maximum of 24 points from each of their last three games.

Looking back on this game, the first day score was so good and important as you suggested.

Realistically, one win for Surrey should be enough, as bonus points picked up or dropped along the way by the two teams across the total of six matches should see Surrey through. By the same token, failure by Somerset to win all three of their matches would also be likely to be decisive.

So many highlights this season. The performance in beating Yorks away at Scarborough despite having by far the worst of the playing conditions has got to be up there....

guildfordbat wrote:Olly - another very strong performance. You're right about the 30 points. Realistically it needn't be as many as that as Somerset are very unlikely to get a maximum of 24 points from each of their last three games.

Looking back on this game, the first day score was so good and important as you suggested.

Cheers Guildford - always thought I was a half decent judge

But seriously as both Burns and Ten Doeschate have pointed out, it was won and lost on that first day. Surrey rose their luck (drops and plays and misses) but batted brilliantly to setup another dominant win