Surrey beat Hampshire in Second XI Trophy Match

James Vince 60 not enough for victory

Surrey beat Hampshire by 6 wickets in a Second XI Trophy game at The Rose Bowl Nursery Ground.

The home side didn’t get off to the best of starts on an overcast morning when Liam Dawson was run out first ball by Arun Harinath, without actually facing it. So at 0-1 new boy Dan Christian, fresh from his promising t20 start at Glamorgan came out for some useful time in the middle ahead of his home debut against Somerset on Friday. Meanwhile at the other end James Vince showed off the technique that has seen him make a series of First XI appearances, executing some lovely textbook cover drives and tasteful whips down the leg side. 

The pair continued to bide their time and hit the bad balls, keeping the scoreboard healthy. But in the sixth over Christian (12) was trapped LBW by Ahmed. Surrey thought they had got the breakthrough to limit the home side; however no-one seemed to have told captain Chris Benham. A spiral-like wagon wheel evidenced some superb batting and certainly steadied the ship. With this type of play Vince was able to take control, taking heed of his teammate’s approach, lashing boundaries through every gap in the Surrey field. This form continued and Vince had made his half century by noon but was soon bowled for 60 by spinner Simon King when embarking upon a failed sweep shot. Benny Howell was next in.

Benham played both spinners well before he was caught behind by Wilson off Muhunthan Harinath for 34. Thompson then joined Howell and the pair worked nicely together to ensure the score was a respectable 160 at the halfway stage. There was an anxious atmosphere amongst the coaches when Howell pulled up with cramp and Dawson rejoined the action as a runner for Howell but ironically it was Thompson who was run out just two balls after the short break for 16.

Steel took his guard and looked to calm the flurry of wickets that had seen Hampshire’s hold on the match slip slightly. But some good bowling from M Harinath saw him edge to Wilson for 10 runs. Wicketkeeper Michael Bates joined Howell and looked comfortable, dispatching King for consecutive boundaries and blocking the better balls to further show his growing maturity as a batsman. It was then Howell, who had looked slightly uncomfortable since cramp set in, who lofted to Ahmed at long off for 33.

David Balcombe came and went, dismissed LBW to Lancefield for 3. Irvine-Fortescue partnered Bates for a quick fire cameo of 18 before he too followed Dawson and Thompson, being run out by Walters. Jack Sheppard came in at 11 and made just one run before edging behind to Wilson off Tim Linley to end Hampshire’s innings at 249 all out at 47.5 overs. Bates finished 34*.

Surrey began in a less attacking manner in the early stages of their innings, but the run rate of 5 an over was right on the money reaching 25 of the first five. Opening bowlers did however ooze experience and indeed fairly good form. Balcombe had starred with the ball in Hampshire’s previous game and Christian had arrived with pedigree and high expectations. But Walters and Lancefield alternated with a mix of measured shots and sheer speed between the stumps, so forced Benham into a double change to Dawson and Sheppard. Neither could force a mistake from either batsman who powered to a 100 partnership off only 15 overs.

But it was the youngster Sheppard who took the first wicket, mostly thanks to a stunning catch from Dawson at mid wicket, Walters leaving for 37. Laurie Evans joined the impressive Lancefield at and looked to pick up where his captain had left off. Balcombe then replaced the only wicket taker in a bid to introduce a bit more pace, and it paid off when Lancefield tapped a faint shot back towards the diving bowler and was caught and bowled for 82.

Vince replaced Sheppard, yet neither he nor Dawson could find a way into the Surrey middle order and were frustrated by good balls meeting better shot selection and by 30 overs the score had reached 200-2 with the hosts running out of ideas.

Christian was bought back but it was the same story as Evans and Jason Roy continued to accumulate quick runs and hard hit boundaries. There was hope though in the 37th over when Roy was run out by Dawson off the bowling of Irvine- Fortescue, finishing on 61. Gary Wilson came in at 5 but failed to make an impact as he was dismissed by Dawson, clean bowled for 0. M Harinath (4*) took his guard and the left hander scored the winning runs to cap a fine batting display and a Surrey win by 6 wickets.

Sam Cook
 

Back to news