SURREY V LANCASHIRE at the Brit Oval (LVCC1), 19-22 SEPTEMBER
2007
In the same way that Surrey's averages do not suggest they are a side with
four wins in this year's championship, Lancashire's averages are not those of a
team on the brink of being crowned champions for the first time since 1934.
Only two batsmen have scored over 600 runs this term - Stuart Law (1,153
championship runs at an average of 64.05) and fellow Aussie, Paul Horton. Since
making back to back hundreds against Yorkshire and Hampshire in August, Horton
has averaged just 32.16. He has also been caught behind a fair few times,
including in his last three championship innings. Law, however, has been a rock.
In 20 first-class innings this year, he has only been dismissed for less than 16
on three occasions.
The advantage Lancashire have enjoyed, though, is that virtually all of their
bowlers have featured at some point. They will be without leading wicket-taker
Muttiah Muralitharan on this occasion, but Glen Chapple (44 championship victims
at 20.70 runs apiece) has been no slouch. Oliver Newby and slow left-armer Gary
Keedy - both of whom are collecting wickets at less than thirty - have also been
highly effective.
Jonathan Batty needs 80 runs to make it 1,000 first-class runs for the season
two years on the trot. Mark Ramprakash is set to make his 100th f-c appearance
for Surrey. For the visitors, Glen Chapple has 44 f-c wickets to date this
summer and Sajid Mahmood has 98 f-c wickets in his career for Lancashire.
Ian Salisbury is the surprise inclusion in Surrey's squad, which suggests the
pitch is one that will take spin. If Salisbury plays, it will be interesting to
see which of the seamers - Dernbach, Jordan, Nicholson and Ormond - makes way.
OPPONENT |
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
SURREY |
OPPONENT |
Warwickshire |
6-9 Sep 2007 |
Won By 9 Wickets |
Edgbaston |
373 & 179-1 |
285 & 264 |
Hampshire |
30 Aug - 2 Sep 2007 |
Won By An Inns & 37 Runs |
Rose Bowl |
556 |
221 & 298 |
Sussex |
21-24 Aug 2007 |
Match Abandoned |
The Oval |
- |
- |
Durham |
13-16 Aug 2007 |
Match Drawn |
Riverside |
183 & 198-3 |
232 & 397-7d |
Kent |
8-9 Aug 2007 |
Won By 4 Wickets |
Canterbury |
215 &108-6 |
150 & 171 |
Unsurprisingly, all of the pre-match build-up suggests Lancashire are really up
for this game. The question is, are Surrey? The Brown Caps have avoided the
drop, there's no Harbhajan, Matt Nicholson has given the appearance in recent
matches that he's struggling for fitness and Jimmy Ormond is definitely some way
off peak condition. The batting also worries me. Had it not been for Mark
Ramprakash's 175 in the first innings, the game up at Edgbaston would not have
been such a stroll. If the Brown Caps are to avoid losing twice in the same
season to Lancashire for the first time in nearly fifty years, the likes of
Benning and Walters have got to deliver over the next four days. The good news
is that both have significantly better batting averages at the Oval.
M Chilton (capt), P Horton, S Croft, S Law, VVS Laxman, L Sutton (wk), D Cork, G
Chapple, S Mahmood, O Newby and G Keedy.
Vanburn Holder and Neil Mallender.
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
TOSS |
DECISION |
SURREY |
LANCASHIRE |
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 Innings &
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 |
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 Innings &
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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