LANCASHIRE V SURREY at Blackpool
(LVCC1), 27-30 AUGUST 2008
Much water has passed under the bridge since these two sides met on the
opening day of the season. Given the climax to last summer, which saw Lancashire
finish as runners-up in the championship and Surrey haul themselves up to
fourth, following an impressive dash for the line, both counties were regarded
as safe bets to stay up in 2008. How wrong everyone was.
The four-day match at Blackpool, which starts tomorrow, is likely to define
Surrey and Lancashire's season. With seven out of the last nine championship
games at Stanley Park having finished with a positive result, 14 points for the
win would appear to be up for grabs for one of these two sides.
In recent years the Red Rose county has tended to under-perform with the bat
when they have come up against the Brown Caps. This summer, only Paul Horton
(869 runs at an average of 45.73) has made more than one hundred for Lancashire
in the championship. Mal Loye, who was an England ODI player just 18 months ago,
is averaging 7.92. Iain Sutcliffe's woeful form with the willow has led to him
announcing his retirement. Even Stuart Law, who has averaged over fifty in five
out of the last six summers, is going along at just 37.56 this term.
The biggest plus point for Lancashire has been the all-round form of Steven
Croft, who is averaging 39.28 with the bat and 33.64 with the ball. Glen
Chapple, Dominic Cork and Sajid Mahmood have led the attack with a fair degree
of success, although, once again, Gary Keedy has failed to reproduce the form he
showed between 2003 and 2006. That said, Keedy is yet to play at Stanley Park,
which suggests it is a venue where the seamers hold sway.
To follow...
Surrey have dropped Stewart Walters and brought in Chris Murtagh, who had
a good game for the 2nd XI against Middlesex last week. It remains to be seen,
however, whether Murtagh will open. The Brown Caps have not had a three-figure
first wicket partnership in the season's championship and the rumour is that
Scott Newman will be partnered, up front, by Mark Ramprakash in this contest.
OPPONENT |
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
SURREY |
OPPONENT |
Sussex |
20-23
Aug 2008 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
455 & 171-7d |
328 & 154-3 |
Somerset |
12-15
Aug 2008 |
Match Drawn |
Taunton |
406-9 |
401-3d |
Yorkshire |
30
Jul - 2 Aug 2008 |
Match Drawn |
Headingley |
204 & 264-3 |
414-9d |
Durham |
16-19
Jul 2008 |
Lost By 10 Wickets |
Guildford |
220 & 323 |
410 & 134-0 |
Nottinghamshire |
11-14
Jul 2008 |
Match Drawn |
Trent Bridge |
403 |
218 & 372-6 |
This match really could go either way. The key to the outcome is whether
Lancashire's brittle batting is able to rediscover its form against, what it has
to be admitted, is one of the weaker attacks in Division One.
K Brown, M Chilton, P Horton, S Law (capt), L Vincent, F du Plessis, S
Croft, L Sutton (wk), G Chapple, D Cork and S Mahmood.
Nick Cook and Jeremy Lloyds.
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
TOSS |
DECISION |
SURREY |
LANCASHIRE |
16-19
Apr 2008 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
537-5d |
241-6 |
19-22
Sep 2007 |
Won By 24 Runs |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
427-9d
& 295-5d |
234 &
464 |
2-4
May 2007 |
Lost By 7 Wickets |
Old Trafford |
Surrey |
Bat |
284 &
120 |
315 &
90-3 |
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 Sch |
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 |
No toss made |
- |
- |
- |
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 |
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