Monday 12 September 2011

Maynard Century takes Surrey to Maximum Points


Surrey enjoyed a good opening day of the final LVCC Division 2 match of the season, against Derbyshire, at the Kia Oval, collecting all 5 batting points.

Rory Hamilton- Brown won the toss and elected to bat, and he walked out to the middle with opening partner Steve Davies, knowing that Surrey needed all the points they can get if they wanted promotion. Start was delayed by 15 minutes, but when play got underway, Hamilton- Brown went early when he was caught by Wes Durston off the bowling of Mark Footitt for 6. And Derbyshire had an even better start when Tim Groenewald bowled Mark Ramprakash for 0. Surrey 12-2, and in trouble.

Surrey’s leading scorer of the season, Zander de Bruyn, joined Steve Davies, and the pair began to rebuild the Surrey innings, fighting against some tight Derbyshire bowling. They began to play more fluently as the morning went on, and Surrey went to lunch on 103-2, the partnership 91.

After lunch, they continued to play well and within quick succession, the pair brought up their 50’s. First was de Bruyn, whose came up off 89 balls, followed by Davies, 1 ball less. But with the score on 132, Footitt had his second wicket, when de Bruyn was caught behind for 61. Tom Maynard joined Davies and the pair began to build another partnership, until Davies fell for 73, off the bowling of Durston.

Jason Roy and Maynard once again looked in good form, with the former hitting a six early in his innings, and the latter, playing less attacking than normal, knowing he had a job to do. They began to control the Derbyshire bowling, with Roy batting at a run a ball, hitting another six in the process. Maynard brought up his 50 from 66 balls, playing more fluently as his innings went on.They were taking Surrey towards tea in a good position, but just before the break, Jason Roy was run out for 45. Gareth Batty joined Maynard, and Surrey went to tea 270-5.

Not long after Tea though, Gareth Batty went when he was trapped in front by Groenewald, for 13. Chris Jordan, after his back to back fifties last week, joined Maynard and was the perfect foil for the Welshman, who was playing shots all around the ground. And Maynard moved to a brilliant hundred with the score on 333-6, and passing 1000 first class runs this season, in the process.

However, after Maynard passed his hundred, Jordan went when he was bowled by a good inswinging ball from Footitt for 14. Surrey 356-7, still needing 44 more for maximum batting points. And Footitt thought he had his 4th wicket of the innings when he bowled Stuart Meaker with a brilliant Yorker, but it was a no ball, and Meaker was reprieved.

However, not long after, Maynard went for a brilliant 123 when Jonathan Clare had him caught behind, with Surrey still 18 runs short of 400. And Footitt was at it again when he had Meaker caught at leg slip, but once again it was a no ball, Surrey scraping their way towards 400.

And after a couple of nervous overs, Tim Linley brought up the maximum batting points with a pull into the leg side, and Surrey closed on 400-8.

A good day for Surrey, recovering from the couple of early wickets they lost, and have done all they can do at the moment, with the maximum batting points potentially ever so crucial. And Surrey know that if Northamptonshire fail to reach 350, they are 316-9 overnight, and Surrey win their game, as well as taking all bowling points, then they are promoted.

1 comment:

  1. Don't worry about Northants getting to 350, if Surrey win and they end up on the same points then Surrey are ahead because they have won more games. It's in our hands now!

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