LANCASHIRE V SURREY at
Old Trafford (LVCC1), 2-5 MAY 2007
Surrey are now 25-1 to win the championship, but a victory over 3-1 rated
Lancashire would see those odds alter dramatically. They say there's no such
thing as a poor bookmaker. It's not hard to see why when one considers that, since the move to two
divisions, no team has taken the title after losing the opening two matches; neither has a promoted side won the championship in their first year back in
Division One. Surrey's odds should be 33-1 if not fifties when you take those
facts into consideration.
For the third match running, Surrey's championship opponents have had the
best part of a week without any competitive cricket, so one expects that the
hosts, who drew with Warwickshire at Edgbaston in their one and only outing thus
far, will be fresh and raring to go. The only good news as far as the visitors
are concerned is that World Cup quintet, James Anderson, Andrew Flintoff, Brad
Hodge, Sajid Mahmood and Muttiah Muralitharan are set to sit this fixture out.
It means that 22-year-old seamer Oliver Newby keeps his place, as does the
economical Kyle Hogg. Slow left-armer Gary Keedy sent down a phenomenal 74.3
overs at Edgbaston, but was rewarded with match figures of nine for 232.
However, it was Newby who impressed, by picking up three scalps in each dig,
including those of Darren Maddy and Jonathan Trott twice. The red rose county's
new-ball duo of Dominic Cork and Glen Chapple may have come away empty handed
from the Warwickshire clash, but the Brown Caps will be well aware that last
term they took 42 championship wickets at 25.50 runs apiece and 41 at 27.41
respectively.
With the bat, the home side will miss Hodge, but their two leading-makers
last year, Mal Loye and Stuart Law are both available. Law's first-class record
against Surrey is worth a mention - 1,042 runs at an average of 65.12. At
Edgbaston, Loye made amends for a first innings failure with an unbeaten 105 in
the second dig, but his side would have been staring defeat in the face had it
not been for Paul Horton and Luke Sutton's 147-run fifth wicket partnership
first up. Sutton, who had flashes of brilliance with the bat in 2006, hit his
straps early by making a dogged 111.
To date, Mark Ramprakash has made 89 first-class hundreds. Four of them have
been against Lancashire, but none of them have come at Old Trafford. Rikki
Clarke has now taken 98 f-c wickets. Jimmy Ormond's tally for Surrey is 198 f-c
wickets. Of the Lancashire contingent, Dominic Cork has claimed 198 catches in
f-c cricket. Gary Keedy has taken 44 f-c wickets against Surrey. Stuart Law has
made 19 f-c hundreds for Lancashire. Luke Sutton's run tally in all f-c cricket
stands at 4,875.
James Benning has been rewarded for his superb 152 against Gloucestershire in
the FP Trophy on Sunday by being included in the Surrey squad for this trip. Richard Clinton and Neil Saker have also both forced
their way into the 13-man line-up. Azhar Mahmood misses out due to a back injury
and fast bowler Jade Dernbach is still recovering from a thigh injury. Saker,
rather than Benning, appears to be the favourite to get Azhar's spot.
OPPONENT |
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
SURREY |
OPPONENT |
Hampshire |
25-28 Apr 2007 |
Lost By 35 Runs |
The Oval |
203 & 467 |
481-9d & 224-1d |
Yorkshire |
18-21 Apr 2007 |
Lost By 346 Runs |
The Oval |
344 & 170 |
494-9d & 266-7d |
Derbyshire |
20-23 Sep 2006 |
Won By 5 Wickets |
Derby |
275-8d & 273-5 |
385 & 162-8d |
Gloucestershire |
6-9 Sep 2006 |
Match Drawn |
Bristol |
288 & 470-9 |
459 & 329-8d |
Glamorgan |
30 Aug - 1 Sep 2006 |
Won By 218 Runs |
The Oval |
433 & 309-5d |
269 & 255 |
Surrey have only recorded three championship wins at Old Trafford since the
heady days of Surridge, May, Lock, Laker et al, back in the 1950s, so, I'm not
hopeful. However, if the Brown Caps can keep the home side under 350 at the
first time of asking - which would be a "first" as far as this season
is concerned - then they would have every chance.
M Chilton (capt), I Sutcliffe, M Loye, S Law, P Horton, L Sutton (wk), G
Chapple, D Cork, T Smith, O Newby and G Keedy.
Peter Hartley and Roy Palmer.
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
TOSS |
DECISION |
SURREY |
LANCASHIRE |
2-4
Sep 2004 |
Won By 147 Runs |
Old Trafford |
Surrey |
Bat |
369 &
185 |
278 &
129 |
11-13
Aug 2004 |
Won By An Inns & 55
Runs |
Whitgift School |
Lancashire |
Bat |
525 |
210 &
260 |
26-29
Aug 2003 |
Lost By 8 Wickets |
Old Trafford |
Surrey |
Bat |
337 &
138 |
341 &
135-2 |
18-21
Apr 2003 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Lancashire |
Bat |
280 &
379-6 |
599 |
31
May - 3 Jun 2002 |
Match Drawn |
Old Trafford |
Surrey |
Bat |
382 &
246-6d |
194 &
112-3 |
8-11
May 2002 |
Won By 3 Wickets |
The Oval |
Lancashire |
Bat |
216 &
309-7 |
320 &
200 |
29
Jun - 2 Jul 2001 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
248 &
320-9d |
276 &
170-2 |
25-28
Apr 2001 |
Abandoned |
Old Trafford |
- |
- |
- |
- |
13-16
Sep 2000 |
Match Drawn |
Old Trafford |
Lancashire |
Bat |
359 |
324 &
304-9d |
2-5
Aug 2000 |
Won By 272 Runs |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
310 &
227-4d |
120 &
145 |
15-18
Jun 1999 |
Won By 4 Wickets |
The Oval |
Lancashire |
Bat |
298 &
161-6 |
194 &
260 |
18-21
Jun 1998 |
Lost By 6 Wickets |
Old Trafford |
Lancashire |
Field |
146 &
254-1d |
151-7d
& 250-4 |
10-12
Sep 1997 |
Lost By An Inns & 55
Runs |
The Oval |
Lancashire |
Bat |
270 &
267 |
592-4d |
7-9
Aug 1996 |
Won By 140 Runs |
Southport |
Lancashire |
Field |
211 &
442 |
145 &
368 |
29
Aug - 1 Sep 1995 |
Lost By 9 Wickets |
The Oval |
Lancashire |
Field |
221 &
239 |
392 &
71-1 |
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