County Championship
Round 1
Gloucestershire v
Surrey
Preview:
County Championship starts do not come harder than a game
against a Surrey side that disappointed in 2020, winning one and losing four
Bob Willis Trophy matches, finishing fifth in the South Group, but that is
packed with star names and that can count with Hashim Amla. Surrey will be
desperate to do better in 2021.
In contrast, Gloucestershire are without both their overseas
stars, with Kraigg Brathwaite still in preventive quarantine and Dan Worrall
yet to arrive, but do welcome back James Bracey, who should become
Gloucestershire’s first Test cap since Jon Lewis, sometime in the next twelve
months.
2020 was a season of what might have been for the Shire, for
whom an abandoned match against Northants and a near miss against Glamorgan
were the difference between their eventual fifth place and a more than
respectable third in the Group.
Gloucestershire are missing Ben Charlesworth (dislocated
shoulder) and Jared Warner (side strain). Without Kraigg Brathwaite and Dan
Worrell, James Bracey could be asked to open with Chris Dent, although he will
also take the gloves, which could tempt the selectors to go for one of Miles
Hammond and George Hankins to open, with Bracey dropping down the order and the
loser of Hammond/Hankins missing out from the XIII. With five seamers plus Tom Smith in the
squad, it seems likely that the choice of the bowler to miss out will be between Josh Shaw and George
Scott, with the former probably favourite to play given his good pre-season form.
Surrey have an embarrassment of riches, with five England
winter tourists and Amla available, even though Kemar Roach is waiting to leave
quarantine. Surrey bring two spinners, but surely will not play both. A top order of Rory Burns, Mark Stoneman and
Hashim Amla with Ollie Pope to follow will test the Gloucestershire new ball
attack. Similarly, Jamie Overton, Reece Topley, Matthew Dunne and Jordan Clarke
will test the Gloucestershire openers.
With ten games played back-to-back and the Bristol track not
normally helping the bowlers much, one suspects that both sides will be
satisfied with a solid opening draw rather than risking defeat in the search
for victory.
Let battle commence!
Day 1:
Six out of nine captains to win the toss decided to bowl and Chris
Dent did not buck that trend, inserting Surrey. Looking, with an eye to the
sky, Miles Hammond and Tom Smith missed out, with Gloucestershire fielding five
seamers, supplemented by van Buuren, but lengthening the batting in the process.
In contrast, Surrey included spin in the form of Amar Virdi, who is very much
in the England frame, while the very promising seamer, Matt Dunne, missed out.
Omens are not so good for the Shire, with Surrey victorious in
three of the last five meetings back to 2011, although the matches in 2011 and
2014 were both close. Only in 2015, when Surrey were unstoppable, was the match
genuinely one-sided.
The sun came out intermittently to join the cold wind that saw
most fielders wearing at least two sweaters, David Payne took the first over
against two (currently) former England openers in Rory Burns and Mark Stoneman,
opening with a solid maiden and the season was in progress. With Ryan Higgins
solid at the other end, the first 21 balls of the day were dots, before Stoneman
broke the sequence with a boundary. Rory Burns then took a boundary from David
Payne before, two balls later, edging a nice outswinger, to George Hankins.
Surrey 8-1 and David Payne with the first wicket of the season for the Shire. In
the next over, the sequence repeated: boundary to Stoneman and, two balls
later, Ryan Higgins trapped him LBW. Surrey 12-2 and in some strife.
However, when you have the opposition 12-2 and the new batsmen
average 48.3 (Amla) and 50.5 (Pope), you know that there is a lot of hard work to
do. After 13 overs, with Surrey 34-2 and
re-building, first Josh Shaw relieved Ryan Higgins, then Matt Taylor replaced
David Payne. It looked as if the hard-won advantage might be slipping away
until Ollie Pope went after Josh Shaw. Straight to Scott at Backward Point.
48-3. Thanks very much. It was to set the pattern for the day. Every time a
partnership started to build, it ended abruptly.
Immediately afterwards we saw one of those bizarre, COVID-induced
moments. Smashing drive from Amla off Taylor. Higgins a distant second in the
chase. The ball then hopped the fence and went into the commentators’ marquee,
where protocol established that the fielder could not chase it and the
commentators could not touch the ball to return it. Some nifty footwork from Radio
Bristol’s Mr. Lamb and a pass that might get the injury-strapped Bristol City
interested. Problem solved and Surrey commentator, Mark Church, looking at the
score and speculating hopefully how much lacquer was taken off the ball with
the kick.
91-3 at Lunch. Amla a menacing 47*. Foakes on 8*. Surrey wrestling
back the advantage yet, of the three sides batting first in Group 2, Surrey
were in clearly the worst position.
As Amla passed serenely his fifty and the score advanced, Gloucestershire’s
fine position in mid-morning was again threatening to melt away. Enter Josh
Shaw to pin Amla LBW for 56. 109-4. Match back in the balance and Josh Shaw
showing how much he has advanced since he joined the club. Then Ryan Higgins
got his second LBW of the day and Foakes went for 26. Surrey 136-5.
Higgins to Jordan Clark. Edge to the waiting Bracey behind. 144-6
and Surrey’s careful pre-Lunch re-build in tatters. There had been 21
boundaries so far – 84 of 144 runs – and one wondered if the batsmen had
forgotten how to grind out an innings instead of launching themselves at
anything remotely loose. Case in point: between the 7th and 8th
wickets there were 15 deliveries, with 4x4, 9 dot balls and 2 wickets. No
strike rotation. No pushing singles and twos, just dot, boundary or wicket. All
thud and blunder, little application. Josh Shaw was not complaining – he bowled
Smith and Atkinson to sit on figures of 14-2-39-4. Surrey 185-8 and struggling.
The big question for the Shire was whether or not they could
finish the job. However, in this task, the bowlers have found a willing ally in
the Surrey batsmen. Jamie Overton was another to get a start and then get out:
bowled by Sid Payne for 40; the fourth Surrey batsman to reach 20, but not to pass
40. With two genuine batting rabbits at the crease, the bowlers were scenting
blood. And then, of course, the heavens opened.
That was that for the day. A day that, every time Surrey seemed to
be getting back on an even keel, a wicket fell. It has been a good day for the
Shire – 2-49 for David Payne. Wonderful figures of 19-10-35-3 for Ryan Higgins.
4-48 for Josh Shaw and a chance of best First Class figures on the morrow –
now, the bowlers will want that final wicket to fall quickly and for the
batsmen to make some runs to back up the fine bowling effort.
We will be back tomorrow to see what happens. You sense a huge opportunity here for Gloucestershire.
Day 2:
After only 70 of 96 overs were possible on Day 1, the Shire wanted
to finish off the innings quickly and then get runs on the board.
On an overcast morning, although slightly less bitterly cold, David
Payne took just three balls to get Topley to edge behind, finishing with 3-49
and Surrey, 220ao. All in all a good bowling effort, although there was a
feeling that runs had come a little too easily at times against the fourth and
fifth bowlers.
So, who would open with Chris Dent? Surprise, Surprise, it was
James Bracey after all who, with the background of seagull calls, took first
strike and started the Gloucestershire chase with a single from Reece Topley’s
third ball. Topley soon settled into a testing rhythm, using his height to
discomfort the batsmen. At the other end, Gus Atkinson was playing just his
third match for Surrey, hoping to exploit the overhead conditions with his
gentle medium pace more than Overton’s out and out aggression would. Either
way, Chris Dent took the last three balls of Topley’s third over for 4, 4 &
2 and Gloucestershire were on their way. After ten overs it was 35-0 and the
new ball thrust had been seen off. Jamie Overton entered the attack.
The fifty came up from the first ball of the thirteenth over with
Dent 27* and Bracey 19*. It was almost alarmingly comfortable, with only one
significant appeal in the first twelve overs and boundaries starting to flow.
The selectors were at the ground, watching the action; talk was that they
wanted to see Reece Topley, but they could well also be interested to see how
James Bracey shaped up (and, just possibly, with the England opening position
still not nailed down by anyone, even Chris Dent). At this stage they must have
been enjoying the calm batting that they were seeing.
Dent reached his 50 (55 balls, 7x4, 1x6) with an imperious pull
for six over midwicket and Gloucestershire were flying at 91-0, made at 4.8 per
over. Surrey’s response was to bring on Amar Virdi. Down the track came Dent
for a lovely boundary. The hundred up just five balls into the twentieth over
and nine from the over. Bracey followed him to a more sedate fifty (81 balls,
4x4) as the strategy became clear: Dent was going to go after the fourth seamer
and spinner, trying to make them too expensive to use, while taking any
opportunity against the other bowlers. Bracey accumulated at the other end,
offering a broad bat and tiring the bowlers. Finally, just as Surrey were eying
the prospect of a really indigestible Lunch score, a disappointed Bracey fell
LBW to Virdi, for 54. 139-1 and the Shire dominant. There was just time for Dent
to add three more to move to 74* before lunch was taken at 142-1.
Tom Lace should have fallen to the fifth ball after Lunch. He
slashed hard at Reece Topley, straight through the hands of Second Slip. The
ball went for a boundary to add insult to injury. It was a hard chance, due to
the speed of the ball, but one that should have been taken. This was
symptomatic of the Surrey effort in the morning: even Virdi bowled a No Ball, there
were misfields and a sense that their heads had gone down. However, despite
Lace’s escape, a wicket fell rapidly after Lunch, but in unfortunate
circumstances. Topley first bowled a outswinging jaffa that beat Chris Dent all
ends up. Then, Dent went to leave the next ball, only managing somehow to
inside edge it onto the stumps as he hesitated when lifting the bat over his
own head. Dent out for 74 and the Shire 147-2.
Suddenly, it was tense again. Topley was bowling with good pace
and getting a lot of movement. Van Buuren went after a wide one, edged to Third
Slip, who knocked it up into the air. Second and Third Slips both lunged for
the rebound, but were beaten to it by Ben Foakes who pouched the catch. 139-1
had become 157-3 and the Shire were wobbling.
For a time the bowling was energised and Lace and Hankins
struggled to survive. Slowly though, they rebuilt and Hankins brought up the
200 in the 49th over with a crashing cover drive. Hankins seemed to
find life at #5 so much more to his liking than opening, as he did last season.
At the same time, you could see why Middlesex were so disappointed to lose Tom
Lace: he batted with great maturity and security. The fifty partnership came up
with the batsmen looking increasingly comfortable. Topley was brought back for
a third spell to restore order and immediately pinned Hankins LBW for 22. He
had done a job but, as happened several times last season, he could not push on
once the hard work of getting in was done. 209-4 and Topley proving a real
handful, but getting little support. Clark tried the centre of the pitch and
Ryan Higgins despatched him dismissively for successive boundaries either side
of the wicket to put Gloucestershire in the lead. Higgins was looking to
counter-attack and suddenly runs started to flow again.
Live by the sword. Die by the sword. Higgins missed a straight one
and Atkinson hammered the ball into the pad. Higgins walked even before Umpire
Blackwell raised the finger. 234-5 and hopes of 350+ and batting just once, receding.
A crashing boundary off Topley took Lacy to his 50 (101 balls, 7x4): his first
for the Shire. 244-5 at Tea, 24 ahead. Lace 52*, Taylor 0*. 102-4 in the
session.
One more partnership and you felt that the Shire could take a
stranglehold on the match. Two wickets and Surrey would be right back in the
game.
The players came out wearing black armbands for the death of
Prince Philip (a fair spinner, in his day), the watery sunshine enough to
persuade Tom Lace to bat in a short-sleeved shirt and no sweater. After a quiet
spell, he aimed a huge slog-sweep at a full Virdi delivery and departed for 65
(175 minutes, 9x4). 262-6 and those hopes of a lead of 150+, which had been
rising again, had taken a another huge hit. Lace’s sleeping partner at the
other end, Jack Taylor, had 3* from 48 balls, but was hanging in there and came
to life crashing Overton through the Covers for four, visibly gaining
confidence and becoming much busier afterwards, with Scott playing himself in,
watchfully. Unfortunately, Scott was not able to take advantage: after 30 balls
of almost complete passivity, the New Ball did for him. A wicket for the
persevering Atkinson. And David Payne fell immediately afterwards to the still dangerous
Topley. 282-3. Suddenly, that third batting point was looking in real danger.
However, Matt Taylor can bat very effectively when he applies
himself and Jack Taylor held-on limpet-like at the other end and, as the light
got increasingly gloomy, the day ended early with a rush of boundaries as the predicted rain arrived. The
Shire 311-8, a third batting point booked. Jack Taylor 26*. Brother Matt, 13*.
The lead 91.
The fourth batting point may be too much to hope for, but with
Reece Topley already having bowled 22 overs, the Shire will hope that they can
get some runs in the morning and then make inroads the second time around, with
a lead over 100 in the bank.
Good day for the Shire, but they will think that it could have
been even better after the fabulous start to the day. Another good day tomorrow and a 22 or 23-point win will beckon.
Day 3:
How many could the last two wickets add? Could the bowlers get
among the Surrey batsmen again? Could the Shire set up a last day tilt for victory?
Would the Bristol pitch flatten right out? Would rain ruin Gloucestershire’s
chances?
So many questions. And it did not take long to get some answers.
Jack Taylor fell quickly in the morning, bowled by Topley, adding just a single
and Josh Shaw against the still fairly new ball was always going to be a catch-weight
contest. Shaw finally edged behind off Atkinson. Just fifteen added and the
lead a disappointing 106.
Reece Topley finished with a magnificent 5-66 and Gus Atkinson,
3-78.
Could Gloucestershire make inroads a second time? With the Surrey
top five all current or former internationals, the sceptics thought not.
However, something is not quite right about this Surrey side that, with so many
stars on its books, should be doing so much better than they are.
Mark Stoneman has never been quite the same since taking a blow to
the head in England colours. Many fans hoped that a trip down south would
revive his form and confidence, but he continues to struggle. He had a terrible
time, being dropped three times (a further chance off Burns also went begging),
before Ryan Higgins finally put him out of his misery by thudding a straight
one into his pads. In-slanted from round the wicket. Stoneman tried to turn it
to leg, played all round it. Thanks very much. 41-1 from 12.1 overs. At this
point, the bowler’s reward is to see Hashim Amla come in…
In came Ollie Pope. Taylor gave him two sighters and then took his
outside edge, with Bracey taking a good, low catch. Pope waited, possibly in
the hope that it had not quite carried, but was sent on his way. 48-3 and
Surrey in all sorts of trouble again.
Burns and Foakes had a big re-building job to do and set about it.
Gloucestershire’s options were limited with Josh Shaw only bowling a single
over before leaving the field at Lunch and not coming back out. They slowly
worked off the deficit, despite Payne giving Foakes all kinds of problems. A
boundary off Taylor brought up the fifty partnership and the hundred. Foakes
edged and Warner (fielding for Shaw) almost took a low catch at Third Slip, although it seemed that the ball had not quite carried. Gloucestershire were
trying their hearts out, but it was not quite happening for them.
Burns reached his fifty (93 balls, 5x4) and Surrey got into the
lead. Taylor and Payne were seen off and on came Higgins and Scott, with the Shire
desperately needing to end the partnership. The change almost brought a wicket
as Foakes hit the ball into the covers and there was a beautiful “Yes! No! Wait!
Sorry!” piece of calling. Lace misfielded, the batsmen went on the misfield, Had Lace’s
throw hit the stumps, Burns would have been gone as Bracey scrambled up to the
stumps to try to cover the throw. Once again, it was not quite happening, but
enough was going on that you felt that three quick wickets were as likely as
the hundred partnership. Higgins hit Burns on the pad. Loud shout, but probably
a little too high and pitching outside leg. 118-3 and Surrey, if not on top,
were grinding the bowling down.
Surrey were getting right on top. Runs were beginning to flow. Short ball from Scott. Compulsive hook from Burns sent up into orbit. David Payne underneath, half blinded by the Sun. Payne pouched it after what seemed like an age waiting. 145-4, effectively 39-4 and the good work done by Burns (74 runs, 130 balls, 13x4) was undone by a strange rush of blood. With Foakes on 49* and Smith at the other end, Bracey advanced to the stumps for Higgins, retreating again when there was a bye. Suddenly things were happening for Higgins: one ball outside off went through at one-third stump height, another swung in massively and bounced. Foakes finally reached his 50 (92 balls, 9x4) with a drive down the ground off Scott. He had been trapped in the 40s for what seemed like an age. Would his 50 release him? Not a bit of it! He continued unwilling, or unable, to score: 12 balls on 53 before van Buuren produced a horrible delivery that a more confident batsmen would have slapped away for six, but Foakes got two for thanks to a misfield. The spell was broken and, suddenly, if briefly, runs started to flow again.
As Tea approached, David Payne looked totally shot and, with the
new ball coming in the last hour of the day, Chris Dent had to think about
conserving his main bowlers without losing control. Last ball before Tea. Last
effort from Payne. Straight through Smith like a shell. Off stump cartwheeling. Smith 27 and
Surrey 187-5, effectively 81-5. An awful moment for Surrey to lose a wicket.
It was a seminal moment. Payne appeared exhausted at the start of
the over, but visibly wound himself up for a final effort for the last two
deliveries before the break. His cry of joy and sinking to his knees was a
classic reaction.
Out after Tea, van Buuren and Matt Taylor in partnership and
Foakes looking in trouble outside off stump every time Taylor got the 5th
stump line right. Taylor had two, loud LBW shouts: the first against Foakes
looked well outside off, the second, against Clark, looked very close. Tension
was rising again. Then Foakes pushed to Point and set off, not realising that
Clark was totally uninterested in the run: George Scott’s shy missed, otherwise
Foakes would have been on his way. Foakes was getting bogged-down, nervous and
frustrated. However, he saw it though and, finally Matt Taylor had to be
rested, with George Scott replacing him as the light got increasingly gloomy
and the partnership passed 40. Van
Buuren finally found a magic ball, Foakes overbalanced slightly and Bobby
Bracey whipped off the bails, but it seemed that the back foot was anchored.
Three balls later the umpires took the players off for bad light. Not long
after, as the ground staff applied full covers, the rain started to beat down
and the picture looked very bleak.
232-5. 126 ahead. Match in the balance.
Gloucestershire are still favourites, but will need to wrap up the
innings with the new ball. If Surrey bat past Lunch, a draw will be the most
likely result.
Day 4:
The match situation looked pretty simple. If Surrey saw off the
new ball and got past Lunch, the match was looking like a likely draw. With the
likelihood that overs would again be lost at the end of the day, the prospects
of Surrey getting far enough ahead to declare and bowl out the Shire, looked
remote. The best chance of a result, barring an early clatter of wickets, was
for Surrey to be bowled out 220 or 230 ahead.
What no one imagined is that is what would happen.
For most of the morning, little seemed to happen. The bowlers
could not conjure chances. The pitch looked flat and the bowling did nothing.
For the sceptics, this was their perfect Day 4 scenario: a stalemate on a dead Bristol
pitch. The new ball came and went and the feeling of foreboding increased. Up
came the Ben Foakes century, the Clark 50, the 200 lead. You even wondered if
Surrey were trying to set up a declaration. Nothing was happening at all for
the bowlers. A single chance came all that time… and was missed.
318-5. 15 overs into the new ball. All over for the Shire?
Then, the unexpected happened. Matt Taylor got one through Jordan
Clark and Surrey fell apart. Clark fell for 52 (119 balls, 7x4). 318-6. An end
open? Lunch approaching, the Rhino, who had had a quiet match so far, with the
ball. Overton pinned LBW for 1. Atkinson came in. First ball full on middle and
straight into the pad. Higgins on a hat-trick and 318-5 had become 327-8. Surely
this was too late to matter?
Reece Topley took an age to come out, knowing that there were just
4 minutes to Lunch. There was some “chat” either way about his time-wasting and
a suggestion that he was risking an appeal for Timed Out. However, it worked
from the Surrey point of view, in that David Payne’s over was the last before
Lunch and the hat-trick ball was delayed.
Foakes faced the first ball after Lunch and kept it out safely,
but then offered a very low chance off Matt Taylor that Bracey took brilliantly
– a real touch of Alan Knott in his dive and pouching. Foakes out for 133 (250
balls, 18x4). It was not a pretty innings. He seemed to be struggling for much
of it, but he hung on and always forgot the previous ball.
In came Virdi. 331-9. Lead 226 and you felt that Surrey’s best
chance of a win was if the last wicket fell quickly. A quick single. Confusion
in the running. Tom Lace took aim from Mid-off and, this time, hit. Virdi was
run out by a distance.
318-5 had become 333ao. It was an astonishing Surrey collapse.
Gloucestershire were set 228 to win from 63 overs minus anything
that bad light took off. It looked unlikely, but Dent and Bracey set off with
gusto. Topley, possibly stiff from his first innings exertions, did not have
the fire of the first day. Atkinson was unable to keep a good line and length
and offered plenty to hit. The result was that the Shire were 33-0 from just 5
overs and flying. On came Amar Virdi and suddenly the game looked different. A
pinpoint maiden to Bracey was followed by a tight over from Topley. Suddenly
Bracey seemed to think that he needed to release the pressure. He charged down
the wicket and just lobbed a gentle catch to Mid-On (35-1, Bracey 14, 28 balls,
2x4). In came Tom Lace who lasted just six balls before edging low to 3rd
Slip. 36-2.
Virdi was bowling with great accuracy and allowing no liberties.
Three overs. Three maidens before Chris Dent worked him square for two and
spoilt his perfect figures.
Fifty up in the 13th over. Then Topley bounced van
Buuren who hooked a massive six. Last ball of the over driven for 4. 11 off the
over. 13 overs, 60-2. Surely Gloucestershire couldn’t chase this? Virdi bowled
a little short and wide and Graeme van Buuren cut powerfully for a boundary.
Then a half-stopped on-drive to an over-pitched delivery went for another boundary.
GvB was obviously trying to hit Virdi off his length and it was working.
The punishment that Topley had taken in his previous over led to
Overton replacing him. Virdi met a similar fate and was banished to the naughty
corner too, with Clark replacing him. It made no difference. Van Buuren was
going after everything, playing a classic white-ball innings and no Surrey
bowler was capable to sending down a straight Yorker at him. There were edges,
mishits, lofted shots that evaded fielders – anything but classic coaching
manual stuff, but he was winning the battle and Dent was keeping him company,
batting busily, but taking no risks. Honestly, the England selectors could do
worse than take a look at Chris Dent. Gloucestershire were going at 5-an-over
and Surrey looked short of ideas.
The 100 came up with the second ball of the 21st over,
which was also van Buuren’s 5000 First Class runs. 103-2, 126 to win. A nominal
run-rate required under 3. With the seamers failing to obtain control – or any
realistic threat – Virdi came back and GvB crashed his first ball through the
covers to reach his 50 (44 balls, 9x4, 1x6). You could not take your eyes off
the cricket. Quick singles, carefully placed twos and all salted with
boundaries. Every delivery was an event.
113-2 at Tea. Dent 41*. GvB 54*. 114 to win.
With a storm approaching across the Bristol Channel, the Shire had
to hurry. Surrey helped, with both Virdi and Topley offering boundary balls
with their respective first deliveries after Tea. Surrey knew that rain was
coming and seemed determined to waste time as much as possible, showing that
they were only thinking of hanging-on for the draw. The ground was bathed in
sunshine still, but it was obvious that it would not last.
Two quiet overs and it almost looked as if the batsmen knew that
they had time to spare and could play themselves back in after Tea. Up came
Dent’s 50 (71 balls, 4x4), 144-2, 83 wanted. He was playing second fiddle and just
closing-up an end so that GvB could attack at the other. Under the pressure, Virdi
kept bowling no balls and the impression was that Surrey had given up on the
game. Dent then hit Virdi over the top and the target was down to 73. As the
first dark clouds appeared on the horizon, the batsmen were pressuring the
fielders on the singles and twos and there were enough bad balls that
boundaries were coming regularly. Short ball at medium pace from Topley, GvB
pulled and straight over Virdi at Fine Leg for six. 61 wanted, GvB 84*.
Amazing.
On came Clark. Dent pulled him gloriously for a boundary to bring
the target under 50. The Sun went in and Gloucs started to hit out with even
more urgency. 28 from the last 3 overs. 182-2. 45 wanted. As Surrey wasted time
disgracefully, rain arrived, with 43 to win. It looked like a brief shower, but
the light was becoming an issue again.
The rain cleared. Sun out and the groundstaff were actually
jogging to get to the covers. Re-start at 17:20, with 10 overs lost. The
batsmen just had to hit at everything and hope to beat the light and any
further rain.
Overton bowled a short, wide, long-hop and van Buuren crashed it
for 4. 33 wanted. GvB 97*.
A bouncer, outside off. Hook. Boundary. Van Buuren’s century, his
first at Bristol and first since his debut season. 101* (91 balls, 15x4, 2x6).
Brilliant. 29 needed.
Van Buuren was now in full
white-ball mode. 200-2. Dent 72*, GvB, 102*. Misdirected bouncer from Overton,
hooked for 4 by Dent. Overton responded by flinging the next delivery down almost
to the wide slip. A wide to help the cause. 20 wanted. Jordan delivers it in
the slot ad GvB smashed it over the bowler’s head for 4. Next ball, a repeat.
12 to win. Wide, wide ball that Foakes couldn’t stop and a bye was added.
Another boundary to Dent, just 7 wanted. A two, 5 to win. Dent thrashes the
ball towards the boundary and Amla did not even chase, with the batsmen running
an easy 3 as the ball stopped short of the rope. Comic cricket. 18 off the
over. 2 to win.
Overton to Dent. Wide. Dent slashes. A boundary and
Gloucestershire win with a lot of time to spare.
229-2, Dent 91* (97 balls, 9x4), Graeme van Buuren 110* (98 balls,
17x4, 2x6). It was a textbook chase. Surrey will wonder what might have been
had they taken the rather easy chance that van Buuren had offered early in his
innings, but their capitulation was sad to watch and one suspects that they
would have lost even that catch had been taken. It is fair to say that they
have must have some issues somewhere because such a talented squad should not
be losing so regularly, even with a few players unavailable.
22 points for the Shire, second in the Group. It was a pretty good
start to the season. Well played the Shire!!! A reward for persistence and
positivity.
Retrospective:
Sometimes
it is best to wait a couple of days to react after a game like this. It was an
extraordinary finish to a most peculiar game that featured a mix of big
partnerships and amazing collapses.
In the
heat of the moment, the fan vote gave the MoM award to Graeme van Buuren. It
was an emotional response and a logical one but, looking back at the game, the
Captain had an extraordinary four days and probably deserved it most. Scores of
73 & 91*, scored at 88 runs per hundred balls. Calm captaincy when it
seemed as if the match was slipping away. Critical stands with Bracey in the
first innings and with van Buuren in the second that first set up a first
innings lead and then the chase of the target, were essential to the win.
Although he looked slow in comparison with van Buuren’s bombardment, he scored a rapid pace, without taking great
risks, by being busy – pushing ones and twos, looking for the boundary balls
when they were there. And anchoring the chase, allowing Graeme van Buuren to
enjoy him himself and play shots.
It was
also a good game for the new coach. Ian Harvey played positively: even if not
quite in the Ian Botham class (who is?) he knew how to turn around a match
situation with bat and ball. It was remarkable to see the Shire take a game
that had lost the best part of two full sessions, on a typically pretty flat
Bristol pitch – the demons in the surface were largely in the minds of the
Surrey batsmen – and get the win with positive cricket. Even losing a bowler,
Gloucestershire were able to bowl out a star-laden Surrey batting line-up twice.
Playing positive cricket like this may not work always. Not all sides will
provide the facilities that Surrey provided with bat and ball, but it provides
a new dimension to the team and one that will help them to compete with sides
that have much larger cheque-books.
It was
also a game in which almost everyone contributed. The top four all managed at
least one substantial score. Bracey took some wonderful catches and looked just
as good as Foakes. All four front-line seamers took wickets. And George Scott
provided a critical breakthrough in the second innings.
Let’s not
get over-excited. This was one game. And we now play the side that rolled us
over very cheaply four times last season (twice in pre-season and twice in the
BWT game). Come away from Taunton with a good draw or a win and then we can
really start to get excited about prospects for the season.
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