Surrey Dug Deep to Draw at Lord's

3 July 2009

Surrey had a nervous final session at Lord’s, but Mark Ramprakash saw them through to a draw. Surrey finished 99 for five in their second innings after being asked to chase 240 in 44 overs.

The morning session saw Surrey bowl well and consistently once more and the Middlesex batsmen responded by being patient and defensive. If the first hour was anything to go by then Middlesex could have batted all day, but it did not turn out that way. Billy Godleman and Nick Compton continued their watchful play and took the score to 50 before Godleman finally departed for 21 off a dogged 102 balls. He was well caught by Chris Jordan at third slip from a sharp short ball by Alex Tudor. Tudor taking over the mantle of leading the attack as Andre Nel was struggling with a niggle.

Surrey needed quick wickets to try their best to force a result and the first wicket gave them a sniff as Owais Shah came in and played more attackingly. His attacking style rubbed off on Compton and the pair increased the scoring rate as it looked like Middlesex suddenly had some interest in making a game of it. Surrey turned to spin, but Shah was in control and scored at a run a ball to help the home side set up a total. He and Compton scored a century partnership as they looked untroubled once Surrey spread the field, Compton playing quite exquisitely as he was on his way to a personal century.

The scoring rate was slowed after Shah had reached 50 as Surrey claimed three wickets for eight runs. Murtaza Hussain was finding good turn from the Pavilion End and the batsmen were helping themselves to fours on the shorter leg-side boundary. However, Shah swept Murtaza to the substitute fielder, Chris Murtagh, on the square-leg boundary to go for 61. Middlesex sent in Shaun Udal at four and then Murali Kartik at five to try and add some impetus, but they both departed for single figures. Udal edged to Mark Butcher at slip off Murtaza for two and then Kartik was stumped for four when he was deceived in the flight by Usman Afzaal. Middlesex were 178 for four, and Dawid Malan joined Compton to set up the declaration, hitting 30 off 32 balls before he was caught in the deep off Usman. Compton played well throughout and was still at the crease when they declared on 246 for five, Compton notching up a century off 193 balls.

Surrey’s target of 240 needed to come off 44 overs and they started badly when Jonathan Batty was caught by a diving Kartik at second slip off the second ball of the innings, Surrey naught for one. Michael Brown and Mark Ramprakash took Surrey to 23 for one at tea, leaving themselves 217 to win off 34 overs. Any thoughts of a win though were taken away when Surrey lost three quick wickets after tea, finding themselves 40 for four. Brown was LBW to Steve Finn, who was really running in with intent from the Pavilion End and testing the batsmen’s skills. Then Stewart Walters was LBW, padding up to Kartik for three. Then Kartik had his second wicket when Usman prodded the ball to silly point for one

Middlesex really had their tails up, and after being seemingly defensive all match, they were suddenly playing for the win. Mark Butcher joined Mark Ramprakash and took the sting out of the game until the last hour, as the two defended and left the ball with experience. Butcher would depart though for two and hand the task of batting out the day to Chris Jordan and Ramprakash. Jordan played very well against the turning ball from Kartik to end on 30 and Ramprakash finished the day on 49 as Surrey finished on 99 for five drew the match and left Lord’s with 10 points.