Well Poised Game in Cranleigh

30 July 2010

A stoic 110 from opener Arun Harinath helped Surrey reach 310 all out before three wickets for Chris Schofield reduced the MCC Universities to 55/3, leaving all three results possible.

The MCC Universities’ opening bowler’s started very well on a flat pitch which offered so little for their Surrey counterparts the previous morning. But Laurie Evans and Arun Harinath batted patiently – leaving the ball well and were content to wait for the rare bad delivery.

The Surrey pair matched one another run for run until Harinath went on the aggressive against the leg spin of Tom Craddock, advancing down the pitch and hitting him for two successive one bounce fours over mid on. Two overs later Harinath guided a four to third man which brought up his fifty and the side’s one hundred.

The pair advanced the score to 120 when, with only five minutes until lunch, Evans was caught at point for 47.

Jason Roy came in and batted for lunch by hitting three fours in the penultimate over of the morning session to go to the break on 17*. Harinath was 63* and the scoreboard read 144/1.

After lunch, Roy continued to bat fluently – striking the ball extremely cleanly. He tucked into Craddock and very quickly brought up his fifty.

He hit the left arm quick Rob Taylor straight back past him for four to bring up Surrey’s 200. But he fell shortly after, caught behind off the slow left arm of Alex Welsh attempting to cut a delivery which bounced more than he expected.

Welsh was bowling very well, with good control and his accuracy really squeezed new man Gary Wilson and Harinath. Wilson batted doggedly but was out to Craddock LBW for 26 with the score on 251/3.

Next man in Tom Jewell hit his first ball for four but all eyes turned to Harinath who moved through the nineties with nerveless confidence and reached his century with a three off Welsh.

But he lost two partners – Tom Jewell and Zafar Ansari – quickly as Surrey went to tea on 278/5, Harinath unbeaten on 104.

He only added another six to his score after the break when his stoic innings came to an end when he played a very un-Harinath like slog sweep and hit the ball straight up in the air.

After Chris Schofield came and went cheaply, Shaun Cousens and Old Cranleighan Seren Waters took Surrey past the 300 mark.

But Surrey were all out not long after for 325 with leg spinner Craddock taking 5-111 and Welsh also impressing with 4-73.

Captain Gary Wilson appreciated that spin was the way to go and opened with Schofield and Simon King who both got the new ball to bounce and turn.

Schofield proved the more dangerous of the pair and succeeded in removing both openers and then Alan Cope second ball.

Finishing the day on 55/3 – a lead of 170 – the MCC Universities side will be the happier of the two teams but all three results are certainly still possible.

Surrey will look to take early wickets tomorrow morning before setting about chasing down whatever set by their visitors. And with the side batting very low they will be sure to attack throughout their chase.

Report by Ed Clarke

Photograph by Gerry Sexton