Surrey have been involved in 3 pre-season games over the past two weeks, and I think it is fair to say, they haven’t played particularly well. They started with a draw in a 2 day match against Essex at Chelmsford, before travelling to Taunton and being beaten in both a 40 over game and a 3 day game.
Surrey batted first against Essex and immediately found themselves in trouble at 36-4, with Harinath, Roy, Maynard and the skipper all out cheaply. Spriegel soon followed and it was down to Lancefield and Burns to restore some pride to the innings. They both batted well, with the former hitting 41 and the latter 44. Surrey were eventually all out for 211, with Meaker top scoring with an unbeaten 47. Not the greatest start by the batsman. Essex went past Surrey’s total with relative ease, before completing their allocated overs on 288-9. Lewis took 3 and Dernbach and Meaker each took 2 wickets, with Linley and Spriegel taking one a piece.
Surrey had the rest of the day to bat, but that wasn’t as easy as it sounded. After Roy and Harinath got Surrey off to a solid start at 16-0, they capitulated to 16-5, with Spriegel, Maynard and RHB all out without scoring. It was down to Burns and Lancefield once again to prevent (further!) embarrassment and they did ok, until Burns went for 17. Lancefield and Meaker took Surrey to the end of the game just 6 down. A woeful performance from the batsman, and looking for an improvement at Taunton.
RHB was surprisingly rested for the 40 over game at Taunton, so Dernbach was captain for the day and stuck Somerset in. Unsurprisingly, with Tres and Kieswetter, Somerset got off to a flier before Lewis removed the former with the score on 80. Kieswetter was looking in wonderful form, before he fell for 81 to Spriegel. Peter Trego took over the mantle though, and rocketed Somerset to 300-5 off their 40 overs, with Trego falling for 99 on the last ball to a Jordan Yorker. Not a great start to the one day stuff in 2012.
However, Surrey would’ve believed they could win this, with memories of Wantage Road last year. Rory Burns fell early, but Jason Roy and opener Arun Harinath played wonderfully, both reaching half centuries. However, in the space of 6 overs, the game changed. Harinath fell for 62, and was quickly followed by Roy for 81 and Spriegel without scoring. Tom Maynard then went, and the game was out of Surrey’s hands. There was still some time for Jon Lewis to have some fun, but Surrey were bowled out for 250 and lost by 50 runs. Another inexcusable batting collapse, and they were now looking at the three day game starting the following day.
Marcus Trescothick elected to bat first, and he and Arul Suppiah both went early, with Linley and Lewis removing them. Jordan then removed Hildreth to make it Surrey’s morning. Just after lunch, Lewis had two more when he removed Kieswetter and Jones and it was all looking better for Surrey. 3 wickets from Dernbach and a couple from Linley finished Somerset off and they were all out for 160. However, Surrey couldn’t even last until tea before collapsing yet again, with Harinath, experimental opener Jordan, Maynard and Lancefield all going. RHB and Roy looked to rebuild, but after making another start, the skipper was bowled for 28. Roy and Spriegel followed soon after, so it was down to Burns and Lewis to try and get a lead. Once again Burns looked good, and Lewis hit a few lusty blows, taking Surrey to close 7 down, with a lead of 10. The innings was wrapped up quickly at the start of day 2, Surrey all out for 180, leading by 20.
Surrey once again got off to a great start with the ball, as Lewis removed Suppiah and Linley got Nick Compton. Straight after lunch, Trescothick was slow turning for a second and Dernbach ran him out. Hildreth and Kieswetter then batted wonderfully, putting on a partnership of over 150. They both reached their centuries, with Hildreth out before Kieswetter could get to his. After Freddie van den Bergh picked up his first wicket, Trego joined Kieswetter and the pair batted beautifully, taking the game away from Surrey. Freddie van den Bergh then removed the pair of them stumped, with Trego once again out in the 90’s. Somerset declaring on 429-8, so 410 for Surrey to win.
Surrey couldn’t get through to the close without losing a wicket, as Jordan went for 10. Lancefield and Harinath started day 3 well, before the former was out for 24. George Dockrell then picked up two quick wickets, as Harinath and RHB went. Roy and Spriegel were removed cheaply and Surrey found themselves 52-6. Not even Rory Burns could get Surrey out of trouble this time, as he went for 3, and before lunch, Lewis went for 12. Tom Maynard had actually reached double figures, and started to play some shots with only Linley and Dernbach left. However, Dockrell removed the viscount, followed by Maynard for 49, and Somerset had won by a massive 288 runs, Surrey all out for 121. Another diabolical batting performance from the guys.
Surrey now look forward at the first First class game of the season, starting on Saturday at the Kia Oval against Leeds-Bradford MCCU, where the batsman will be looking to find some form. Apart from Burns and Lancefield, none of the batsman come out of pre-season with any credit, and with Rudolph, Ramps and de Bruyn coming back in, there will be competition for places for next Thursday’s game against Sussex.
There were some positives though, as the bowling was generally good. Jon Lewis started his Surrey career well, picking up regular wickets. Dernbach and Linley also did well, with Meaker bowling quickly, without the wickets to match. Like the batting, there is plenty of competition for places with the bowlers, but I feel Lewis has guaranteed a place for next Thursday, with the other spots going to 3 from Jordan, Linley, Jade or Meaks.
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