In the last five years only one county has avoided relegation in the 45-over league with less than seven victories. This summer the Surrey Lions have scored four, including three out of three prior to Monday night's washout against the Hampshire Hawks. With four to play - three of which are on the road and two under lights - they would appear to need three more successes. An upset against the Lightning at Whitgift tomorrow would, therefore, leave the Lions no margin for error. It probably does not help that Lancashire will be out to avenge their defeat in the championship game as well as the one-run loss to the Lions in last Saturday's Twenty20 Cup semi-final, in which Dominic Cork took them to the brink of victory only to then fall under the spell of Adam Hollioake's medium-paced all-sorts. Surrey will be relieved that Andrew Flintoff and Mal Loye will be missing from the visitors' line-up. Nevertheless, the Red Roses boast some big-hitters for whom the school ground will seem like a tennis court. Even if they failed to show it in the week, Dinesh Mongia and Carl Hooper, in particular, are more than capable of launching the ball into the Brighton Road. But before doing so they will rely on Mark Chilton (421 at an average of 35.08 in one-day cricket this summer) and Iain Sutcliffe to provide them with a decent platform. The Lightning's bowling attack has given little away in one-day cricket this summer. Sajid Mahmood (26 List A wickets at 19.23 runs apiece) is the main danger with the new ball, plus Cork is also never be too far away from the action. Alistair Brown needs 60 more to reach 6,000 one-day career runs and Alex Tudor is three away from 100 'List A' wickets.
|