Surrey Go Down Fighting Against Derbyshire

25 April 2009

Surrey went to their first defeat of the season by five wickets against Derbyshire at the County Ground. The Surrey bowlers fought hard on the final morning and picked up three wickets, but Derbyshire completed the win ten minutes before lunch.

Derbyshire resumed on the final day requiring just 73 runs to win and Surrey needing 8 wickets. The players had to wait to begin the day as a series of light showers passed over the County Ground. Play getting underway just before 11:30 am, with Steve Stubbings resuming and playing in dogged fashion as he withstood a barrage of short balls. He survived and kept his wicket intact as he and Dan Redfern took Derbyshire within 50 needed for victory.

Chris Jordan was zipping the ball through off the pitch and bowling with good control. He would take the first wicket of the morning when Redfern would play into the leg-side and weakly lob the ball to Andre Nel to take the catch and leave Derbyshire 166 for 3. Jordan should have claimed his second wicket of the morning when he had Wavell Hinds caught behind, but a no-ball was called by umpire Trevor Jesty and he was not out, much to the annoyance of his Surrey teammates. However, in the next over Chris Schofield would make up for Jordan’s error and remove Hinds for 9, caught behind playing very tamely on the back foot by Jonathan Batty.

Surrey continued with the short pitched bowling form one end as Jade Dernbach took over from Jordan and bowled a really aggressive spell at Stubbings. He did not get his reward as Scott Newman dropped a gloved pull shot at leg-gully, but again Schofield made up for it. It was Schofield who was looking threatening from the other as the pitch was offering ample turn and he managed to remove Stubbings for 83 when he turned the ball into the leg stump from around the wicket, as Stubbings missed a sweep shot. Leaving Derbyshire 195 for five and requiring 23 more to win.

James Pipe and Greg Smith though saw Derbyshire home by five wickets, 10 minutes before lunch on the final morning, as Pipe swept Schofield for four to win the game and leave Surrey with their first defeat of the season.

Speaking after the match to Surrey TV, Chris Adams said 'It's been a difficult four days, we've shown glimpses of good cricket, but not enough consistency and discipline'. Click to play the video above this report to hear more from Chris Adams.