Jordan's best helps Surrey post total

Chris Jordan struck a career best 71 as Surrey enjoyed a good first day at Chelmsford in the LVCC Division two match against Essex, despite being bowled out.

The day started with James Foster winning the toss and electing to field first. Steven Davies and Rory Hamilton- Brown made their way to the middle with Davies in fantastic form after his 2 hundreds in his last two matches. However, with the score on 29, Davies was caught by James Mickleburgh off the bowling of Graham Napier for 11. And not long after, Mark Ramprakash, who has just turnerd42, was bowled by Napier for just 1.

And Surrey were in trouble when Zander de Bruyn was caught in the slips off the bowling of Tymal Mills for 2. 54-3 and needing a recovery. But they didn’t recover when Hamilton- Brown, who passed 1000 first class runs this season in this innings, was bowled once again by Mills, for 32.

Tom Maynard and Jason Roy got together and took Surrey towards lunch playing in a typical attacking manner. But Maynard went when he was trapped in front by Ryan ten Doeschate for 19. Roy and Gareth Batty did manage to take Surrey to lunch at 141-5. However, straight after lunch, Jason Roy edged to Westley for his second catch of the day, this time off the bowling of Graham Napier, for a run a ball 43.

Chris Jordan joined Batty and the pair began to repair the innings in difficult conditions for the batsman, in front of some good Essex bowling. They played sensibly in the situation as well as playing the odd aggressive stroke when needed. The partnership had reached 81 before Gareth Batty was caught by Ryan ten Doeschate for Graham Napier’s 4^th wicket of the innings, 1 short of his fifty. Chris Jordan and Stuart Meaker took Surrey to tea at 244-7.

And straight after tea, Chris Jordan brought up his first fifty for over 2 years, off 111 balls with 3 fours. The young pair began to play more aggressively with Meaker hitting Craddock back over his head for six, and Jordan playing some Caribbean style drives. The partnership had moved to 69 before David Masters had his 1^st wicket of the innings when he bowled Meaker for a well made 38. 298-8, 2 runs away from a 3^rd batting point.  And a Tim Linley single brought up the 300, and from being 148-6, it was a fantastic performance from the lower order.

Not long after, though, Chris Jordan was caught behind for a career best 71, a fifth wicket for Napier, but a great innings from Jordan in the circumstances, taking Surrey to a good score. And after hitting Masters for a massive six, Napier had his sixth wicket when Linley top edged a hook and was caught by Adam Wheater. Surrey all out for 315, and even though they cannot reach a promotion place this week, as they didn’t get maximum batting points, Surrey will be very happy with their 1^st innings score on a difficult track.

Essex had two overs to bat at the end of the day, and Billy Godleman and Tom Westley survived them finishing on 6-0, but Surrey had the spoils on day one, and now looking for early wickets in the morning.