Schofield Scores Maiden Century

20 August 2009

Chris Schofield scored a magnificent 144 as Surrey posted 428 against Essex at Colchester. Schofield’s long-awaited maiden century was followed by maiden half-century by Stuart Meaker as Surrey lead by 207 runs at stumps on day two.

Chris Schofield returned to the crease on day two needing 13 more runs for a well deserved century. He made sure he would get there by knocking the ball around where he could and then found the boundary twice in the 90’s to take him close. Then in the tenth over of the day he hit Chris Wright down to long-off for a single to go to a maiden First-Class ton. It was a patient knock that took 170 balls to reach three figures. After reaching the milestone Surrey pushed on and increased the rate as they looked to make what they could on what now seemed like an easy pitch to bat on. Schofield was finding great support from number eight Stuart Meaker, who looked very comfortable in just his sixth Championship innings. Schofield opened his shoulders and struck the ball very cleanly as he piled the pressure onto the Essex bowlers and he added 41 off his next 36 balls to take the score to 388. Schofield and Meaker were chasing down the 400 and maximum batting points and had put on 125 for the seventh wicket until Ryan ten Doeschate came into the attack and found some swing, having Schofield caught behind for a brilliant 144.

The stage was then set for Meaker to take on the scoring and he went to a maiden First-Class half-century off 107 balls. He pulled well and was also strong off the back-foot through the off-side as he and Jade Dernbach took Surrey to 400, just two balls before the 120 overs were up. With maximum points in the bag they looked to push on, but Essex swiftly cleaned up the tail. The last three wickets falling for 24 runs, as Meaker was the last man out on 72. Surrey all out for 428 at lunch on the second day after some disciplined batting by the lower order.

Surrey did not bowl very well after lunch and wasted the new ball as no bowler found the consistency they would have liked, allowing Essex to race along to 50 without loss. Bowling was hard work in the blustery conditions and there was little movement in the air or off the pitch. It took until Pedro Collins was tried at the River End before he got it right and Tom Westley hung his bat out and the ball found the edge to remove the opener for 35, Essex 77 for one. In the very next over Surrey had a second wicket when John Maunders was LBW for 39 to Schofield. The ball turning sharply from outside the left-handers off-stump giving Surrey a wicket and cause for excitement as batting could become tricky on the dry turning surface.

The evening session belonged to Essex and it was hard work for Surrey. Meaker did pick up Matt Walker for 22 when he was adjudged to have gloved down the leg-side to Jonathan Batty, leaving Essex 137 for three. Ravi Bopara and Mark Pettini batted out the evening session in confident style though as they shared an unbroken stand of 84. Bopara had two good LBW appeals against him from Schofield, but otherwise the pair got to the close untroubled on 221 for three. Bopara finishing unbeaten on 83 and Surrey having work to do on day three with the ball in hand.

Click here to listen to Chris Schofield talking to Surrey TV after his century.