Brown Caps Blow Up in Bristol

27 April 2009

The Surrey Brown Caps capitulated to a massive 128 run defeat in their opening Friends Provident Trophy match against the Gloucestershire Gladiators.

The Brown Caps made a mess of their run chase in Bristol as they were bowled out for 140, with Usman Afzaal top scoring on 36. In reply to the Gladiators 268 for 9, the Brown Caps’ innings started well as Michael Brown and James Benning looked comfortable at the crease, however Benning was the first to go in the eigth over and it was the start of the demise. The Gloucestershire bowlers controlled the white ball very well and bowled an excellent line which contained the batsmen. As a result the Brown Cap batsmen tried to fashion scoring shots and got themselves out. Benning cutting straight to point to go for seven, Brown miss-timing a pull shot to mid-on for 29, an then Steve Kirby bowled a good ball to find the edge of Mark Ramprakash’s bat to go for a duck. Then Jonatahn Batty slipped and was run out for nine to leave the Brown Caps 53 for 4.

Grant Elliott on debut was unfortunate when he was the victim to a sublime one-handed catch by Chris Taylor at point and departed for five. After Chris Jordan was LBW for five, Usman and Chris Schofield batted for some time to restore some credibility. However, when Schofield miss-timed a sweep shot against Vikram Banerjee the innings feel away and the last four wickets fell for 23 runs as Ian Saxelby picked up four wickets for the home side.

The day started with the Brown Caps winning the toss and electing the bat. Andre Nel and Jade Dernbach were both hitting a good length and keeping control in the first few overs. They bowled a disciplined line and the opening batsmen were not being allowed to score freely. Hamish Marshall was then dropped on 9 by James Benning at point off Dernbach. Nel would save Benning though as his opening spell claimed two wickets, of Kadeer Ali and Marshall. They were both caught behind as Nel was nipping the ball around down the slope at the Nevil Road ground, the Gladiators 29 for 2 after the first 10 overs. Nel and Dernbach set the tone early with the ball and Alex Tudor followed on that for the Brown Caps, but some loose deliveries by Tudor and then Jordan let the Gladiators build a good partnership between William Porterfield and Alex Gidman. The partnership released the pressure and scored at a run a ball and took the home side past 100 in the 22nd over. Elliott came into the attack and broke the 96 run partnership when he bowled full and straight and trapped Gidman LBW for 31. Porterfield was playing exceptionally well and hitting clean fours whilst running well and was looking to take the Gladiators to a big score. After a slow start, Schofield and Elliott began to get a grip on the middle overs and control the run rate. The variation from Elliott built a little pressure on Porterfield and that resulted in the left-hander being bowled for 74, 150 for four. After David Brown hit one impressive pull shot for six against Nel, he was bowled by Schofield for 10 and the very next ball the leg-spinner trapped Steve Adshead in front for a first ball duck, Schofield’s two quick wickets leaving the Gladiators 183 for six.

Chris Taylor would help Gloucestershire to a reasonable target as he hit 63 off 58 balls and scored a little too freely for the Brown Caps liking against the returning Dernbach and Tudor. Dernbach claimed two late wickets and the Gladiators reached 268 for 9 off their 50 overs. The Brown Caps would have been pleased with their work on a pitch that was looking nice to bat on as the sun broke through the clouds. Schofield was the pick of the bowlers with two for 29 off his eight overs.

As it turned out the Brown Caps failed in their chase and leave Bristol with a defeat in their opening Friends Provident Trophy game. Highlights of this match will be available here from 9:00 am on Monday morning courtesy of Surrey TV.