SURREY V LANCASHIRE LIGHTNING at Guildford (YB40), 9 JUNE 2013

Whichever team loses this clash can write off all hopes of progressing from Group B in the Yorkshire Bank 40. Lancashire's solitary win in the YB40 came at Surrey's expense, when the two sides contested a low-scoring thriller at Old Trafford. Even though the South Londoners started their campaign with a bang, against Hampshire, only Scotland have succumbed to them since. Furthermore, the Oval outfit are coming off their heaviest defeat ever in one-day cricket, in terms of runs.

Apart from Stephen Parry's 5-17 and Wayne White's 4-35 - both of which came in the seven-run victory over Surrey - Lancashire's attack has struggled to take wickets in the YB40; while only Parry's slow left-arm has provided skipper Simon Katich with any control. But Katich, who has made just 13 runs in three visits to the crease, has the added worry of his own contribution. The batting has relied heavily on Ashwell Prince (163 YB40 runs at an average of 40.75) and Karl Brown; although 22-year-old Jordan Clark has hinted at being something rather special when armed with the willow.

Click here for the Surrey v Lancashire List A Records sheet as at the start of the 2013 season.

Jon Lewis enters this contest with 298 List A career wickets. Of the Lancashire contingent, Gareth Cross has 986 List A career runs.

Steven Davies, who missed this week's championship game owing to a twisted knee, comes back in. Taking a break from his studies at Cambridge University, Zafar Ansari returns to the Surrey fold to form a spin alliance with Gary Keedy, who will be keen to do well against his former county. Tom Jewell is named in the squad ahead of Stuart Meaker, who was arguably the pick of the Surrey attack at Chelmsford, so the biggest headache facing Chris Adams is probably which two to bowl out of Dernbach, Lewis and Tremlett.

Six out of the last seven 40-over matches at Guildford have been won by the side batting last, including each of the last four. So, unlike last Monday at Chelmsford, if Surrey win the toss and field, there's no need to doubt anyone's sanity. What concerns me, though, is just how does a side bounce back from such an embarrassing display? Verdict - Lancashire to complete a YB40 double over Surrey.

S Moore, A Prince, S Croft, K Brown, S Katich (capt), J Clark, G Cross (wk), W White, Kabir Ali, K Hogg and S Parry.

Martin Bodenham and Nick Cook.

GO TO:




BACK TO: