Batty and Walters bat Surrey to safety

26 September 2009

A 174 run partnership from Jonathan Batty and Stewart Walters ensured that the Brown Caps would not finish their LV County championship 2009 campaign with a defeat, with the home side finishing on 309-7 when stumps were drawn.

Starting the day on 24-1, Surrey were in early trouble as night watchman Richard Logan and Arun Harinath were dismissed within the first half an hour however Batty and Walters set about resurrecting the Surrey innings. Both players looked in complete control as they took the wind out of Glamorgan’s sails with some defiant batting.

Batty brought up his second hundred of the season just before tea with a drive off Mark Cosgrove that was misfielded by Dean Cosker and gave him the two runs he needed. The Surrey wicket-keeper punched the air with delight as he helped his team towards the draw. In Cosgrove’s previous over, the scenario might have been different when Jamie Dalrymple put down a regulation chance at first slip from Batty.

Walters too was in good touch and it was an important innings from the captain as he proved to be an excellent foil for Batty. The 26 year old went into tea unbeaten on 76, eyeing up his third Championship hundred of the season, with his side on 220-3 and hopes of a Glamorgan win looked slim.

However the visitors gave it one last push, and with the help of the new ball, they got some quick wickets and all of a sudden the momentum had shifted and Surrey had it all to do.

James Harris got the vital breakthrough when he had Walters caught by Dalrymple with a lofted drive to short extra cover and then off the very next ball, first innings century maker, Matthew Spreigel was caught at first slip by substitute fielder Tom Maynard.

With Batty still there, Surrey still looked like they’d hold Glamorgan off, however with just a further 19 runs added, Batty was bowled by Harris. It was the Glamorgan opening bowler’s third wicket of a very good spell that kept his team in the hunt.

Batty finished with a vital 120 which included 14 boundaries but more importantly, he used up 272 balls and was at the crease for almost two and a half sessions.

Chris Schofield and Chris Jordan halted the Glamorgan onslaught but just when things started to look safe again, Robert Croft got rid of Schofield, leg before for 21 and hopes of a Glamorgan win were still alive. Up until that point, Schofield and Jordan had looked to be positive and as a result, they gave Surrey the lead which would take more time out of the game as every run ahead the home side got, it meant Glamorgan would need more time to score those runs.

Schofield’s wicket forced an injured Usman Afzaal to the crease but with Jordan alongside him, the pair batted Surrey to safety when, at 5.12pm, Glamorgan decided enough was enough.

Surrey will now travel to Grace Road for their final match of the season. Tomorrow, they take on the Leicestershire Foxes in the NatWest Pro40. Live ball by ball commentary, courtesy of BBC London 94.9, will be provided on the game on www.surreycricket.com and full highlights of the match will also be available on the site shortly after the close of play.