Promotion in Surrey's hands

Surrey had a very good day on the second day of the LVCC Division 2 match against Derbyshire at the Kia Oval, claiming 7 Derbyshire wickets, for 177 runs.

The morning started with Surrey in a good position, 400-8 and looking to add some vital runs to the total. Stuart Meaker and Tim Linley looked comfortable in front of the Derbyshire attack and began to frustrate the visitors. And they brought up the 50 partnership with the score on 432. Meaker was moving towards his first fifty of the season, but before he could do, Linley went for 21 stumped off the bowling of Wes Durston.

However, Meaker did bring up his fifty, off of 104 balls, shortly after Linley’s departure. Surrey were all out for 468 when Pragyan Ojha was caught off the bowling of Durston again. A good score for Surrey, now looking for bowling points.

And Surrey had their first bowling point before lunch when Tim Linley had Lineker caught for Maynard without scoring. And Linley had his second, when he had Wayne Madsen caught & bowled for 4. And in the last over before the break, Ojha had Durston caught once again by Maynard. Derbyshire 17-3 and struggling.

Things got worse for Derby when Dan Redfern was trapped lbw by Linley again, for 4, shortly after lunch. Whiteley joined opener Borrington, and they looked to rebuild the innings, with Surrey’s bowlers, bowling tight and not releasing the pressure. However, Whiteley went when Meaker had him caught behind for 24 and Derbyshire in trouble on 62-5.

The skipper, Luke Sutton, joined Borrington and frustrated Surrey, who were looking to bowl Derbyshire out for less than 100. Sutton used all of his experience and played the right shot at the right time, playing really watchfully in the circumstances. Borrington brought up his fifty off of 140 balls, not quick, but the right pace for where Derbyshire were at earlier in the day.

After his fifty was brought up, he began to frustrate Surrey more by ticking the scoreboard along quicker, with Sutton being the perfect partner for him. However, late in the day, Chris Jordan picked up the wicket of Sutton, caught behind for 32. Jonathan Clare came to the crease, and immediately started to play his shots, trying to knock the bowlers off of their line and length.

And after bowling for most of the afternoon session, Ojha had his rewards when he trapped Clare lbw for a quickfire 21. Derbyshire closed on 177-7, with Surrey collecting 2 bowling points.

And Surrey go into tomorrow, knowing that Northampton are close to victory over Gloucestershire, and that victory is the only way to gain promotion. However, if Surrey win this game, claiming all the bowling points, then they are promoted, and possibly as champions, if Middlesex draw with Leicestershire.