Friday 2 September 2011

Davies and de Bruyn put Surrey in command



Centuries from Steven Davies and Zander de Bruyn put Surrey in an excellent position on Day three of the LVCC match against Northampton at Wantage Road. Pragyan Ojha also took two late wickets to put the hosts in trouble at 103-4.

Day 3 started with Surrey resuming on 115-3 with Steven Davies unbeaten on 41 and Zander de Bruyn on 2. Davies started the morning the way he finished last night playing watchfully but putting nearly every bad ball to the boundary. Davies quickly brought up his fifty and along with Zander de Bruyn, began to build a solid partnership.

De Bruyn brought up his fifty 20 minutes before the lunch break. A typical de Bruyn fifty, full of high concentration and some beautiful shots. And just before lunch, Davies brought up his second championship century in as many games. The hundred was off 188 balls with 20 fours and 2 sixes. At lunch Surrey were 239-3, a lead of 314.

After lunch, de Bruyn and Davies continued where they left off 40 minutes previously, ticking the scoreboard a long at a good pace and beginning to build a massive lead. Davies brought up his 150 off 223 balls, his third  fifty coming up off just 45 balls. However, not long after, Davies was caught behind off the bowling of Chaminda Vaas for 156. The partnership had been broken on 216. Surrey 321-4.

Tom Maynard came to the crease and was in his usual mode, attacking from ball one. He began to build a partnership with Zander de Bruyn, leading the South African towards his century. But on 36, after hitting 3 fours and a six, Maynard was run out and Surrey were 392-5. Jason Roy joined de Bruyn at the crease and almost immediately, de Bruyn had his 3rd championship century of the season, coming up off 213 balls. He then hit is 1st six of his innings in the next over and after Roy departed for 9, tea was taken and Surrey declared on 410-6.

486 was the target for Northamptonshire and after Newton and Coetzer had got their teams off to a quick start, Linley struck. He had Newton caught in the gully by Mark Ramprakash for 14 and Surrey had got off to the perfect start. Another wicket for Linley, his 100th first class in his career. Wakely came to the crease and first ball, Linley thought he had bowled him. The ball clearly hit the stumps but it failed to dislodge the bails. Linley horrified and Wakely relieved.

Wakely put it behind him and began to build a partnership with Coetzer in difficult conditions for the batsman as Surrey began to build the pressure. The pair put on 55 until Wakely was bowled for 22 by Pragyan Ojha. Northampton 83-2 and still a few overs left. Ojha then picked up his second wicket when he got David Sales caught at short leg for 5.

Lee Daggett, in as nightwatchman, joined Coetzer and the pair looked to see out the day only 3 down. But they couldn’t and Surrey got the man they wanted in the penultimate over of the day. Meaker steaming in got Coetzer caught behind for a well made 54. Northants 97-4.

A fantastic day for Surrey with Northamptonshire finishing the day 103-4, still needing 384 more runs to win. Surrey look favourites to win this game especially with Stephen Peters looking unlikely to bat again because of a back problem.

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