SURREY LIONS V ESSEX EAGLES at the AMP Oval (NL1), 8 JUNE 2003
Surrey have not lost in the one-day arena since the middle of
August last year, enjoying a run of ten straight wins. Two of them have
been against tomorrow's visitors to the AMP Oval, who will be keen to end Sunday
right up there in terms of the Division One reckoning.
In limited-overs cricket this summer Will Jefferson has
been head and shoulders above everyone else - literally as well as
metaphorically - with the bat for Essex. The 6ft 10ins tall opener has so
far made 321 runs at an average of 53.50, made at more than a run a ball.
But with 19-year-old Mark Pettini recording an unbeaten 92 against Warwickshire
in the C&G Trophy the other day, it cannot be long before he ousts one of the
more familiar names in the Eagles line up - Darren Robinson, perhaps? A
support cast of Flower, Habib, Irani and wicketkeeper James Foster would be the
envy of many counties, though not Surrey.
The emergence of Graham Napier may have been a frustrating
for the Essex faithful. Without wishing to be premature, the patience
shown in him now appears to be bearing fruit. He leads the Eagles' one-day
bowling averages this season with 16 wickets at 11.93 runs apiece.
Generally, for an attack that many criticise for lacking bite - particularly
over four days - Napier, Brant, Dakin and Irani have proved a handful at times. Perhaps the only thing that has let Essex down is
their fielding, which, over the years, has benefited from the safe hands of Mark
Waugh and Stuart Law to name just a couple.
Surrey will be favourites to win, but the Eagles have come back strongly since
their opening NCL defeat at the hands of the Lions. Their confidence has
also been restored in the championship, following a win over Nottinghamshire and
a salvaged draw against Middlesex. This could be another close one if the
weather holds.
The home side will be without the services of Alex Tudor and, probably, Martin
Bicknell. With Pakistan's short tour of England beginning on Monday it
remains to be seen if Azhar Mahmood will be available. All in all,
therefore, Surrey's one-day seam attack could have a very different look about
it tomorrow.
W Jefferson, A Flower, J Foster (wk), R Irani (capt), M Pettini, A Habib, P
Grayson, G Napier, J Dakin, J Middlebrook and S Brant.
27 Apr 2003 |
NL |
Won By 15 Runs |
Chelmsford |
8 Sep 2002 |
NL |
Won By 2 Runs |
Chelmsford |
28 Jul 2002 |
NL |
Won By 73 Runs |
Guildford |
2 May 2002 |
B&H |
Lost By 4 Wickets |
Chelmsford |
5 May 2001 |
B&H |
Won By 6 Wickets |
The Oval |
23 Aug 2000 |
NL |
Lost By 23 Runs |
Colchester |
29 May 2000 |
NL |
No Result |
The Oval |
15 Apr 2000 |
B&H |
No Result |
Chelmsford |
14 Jun 1998 |
NL |
Lost By 26 Runs |
Chelmsford |
8 Jun 1997 |
NL |
Lost By 6 Wickets |
The Oval |
27 May 1997 |
B&H |
Won By 6 Wickets |
Chelmsford |
13 Aug 1996 |
NWT |
Lost By 4 Wickets |
The Oval |
30 Jun 1996 |
NL |
Lost By 27 Runs |
Southend |
9 Jul 1995 |
NL |
Lost By 61 Runs |
The Oval |
14 Aug 1994 |
NL |
Won By 6 Wickets |
Colchester |
16 May 1993 |
NL |
Won By 2 Wickets |
The Oval |
26 Apr 1992 |
NL |
Lost By 10 Wickets |
Chelmsford |
31 Jul 1991 |
NWT |
Won By 31 Runs |
The Oval |
26 May 1991 |
NL |
Won By 7 Wickets |
The Oval |
23 Apr 1991 |
B&H |
Lost By 53 Runs |
The Oval |
19 Aug 1990 |
NL |
No Result |
Chelmsford |
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