SURREY V LEICESTERSHIRE at the Kia Oval (LVCC2), 22-25 JUNE 2014
Leicestershire have acquired the
unhappy tag of being the whipping boys of Division Two. The Foxes, who didn't
win a championship game last season and are yet to break their duck
this, haven't tasted victory in the championship since the end of
2012, when they overcame Gloucestershire by 2 wickets at Grace Road.
Niall O'Brien has led the way
with the bat this term, scoring 524 championship runs at
an average of 47.63, while opener Angus Robson (525 at 35.00) has also
broken through the five hundred run-mark for the season. Other than
his 110 against Essex at Chelmsford, Ned Eckersley has been disappointing, although he
remains far more reliable than Josh Cobb, Greg Smith and, more importantly,
skipper and overseas player Ramnaresh Sarwan, who is averaging just 18.40.
Whilst not yet looking like an
attack capable of skittling sides out twice, Leicestershire's
bowling looks in finer fettle thanks to the resurgence of Nathan
Buck, who has so far taken 26 championship wickets at 26.23 runs
apiece. Rob Taylor, who can give the ball a tap when given licence,
has done a decent job with the ball (taking 17 scalps at an average
of 32.94). Charlie Shreck remains useful at this level, but the
absence of a convincing spin threat could be the Foxes undoing at
the Oval this week.
Gareth Batty is set to make his 200th first-class
appearance, while Leicestershire's Ned Eckersley will be making his
50th. Eckersley (2,984) is also on the brink of 3,000 f-c career
runs. For the hosts, Jason Roy (1,917) and Gary Wilson (1,936) are
inching closer to the 2,000 run-mark.
Tom Curran will be rested after picking up a calf strain during the
T20 victory over Glamorgan at Cardiff. Matt Dunn and Tim Linley are
vying to be his replacement. Tomorrow's game will also see Hashim Amla
take his bow as Surrey's overseas player. Next week, Sri Lanka's
Tillakaratne Dilshan will be opening for the Oval outfit.
OPPONENT |
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
SURREY |
OPPONENT |
Derbyshire |
15-18 Jun
2014 |
Won By 10 Wickets |
Derby |
421 & 21-0 |
153 & 288 |
Gloucestershire |
9-12 Jun 2014 |
Match Drawn |
Bristol |
626-6d |
112 & 506-6 |
Worcestershire |
1-4 Jun 2014 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
206 & 240-5 |
476 |
Essex |
25-28 May 2014 |
Match Drawn |
Chelmsford |
261-7 |
228 |
Gloucestershire |
11-14 May 2014 |
Won By 4 Wickets |
The Oval |
132 & 267-6 |
168 & 230 |
It has taken a while, but Surrey are beginning to string
performances together. Leicestershire, meanwhile, have now gone 24
championship games without a win. With the weather unlikely to have
a say in this contest, my sanity would be questioned if I went for
anything but a victory for the hosts.
G Smith, A Robson, N Eckersley, R Sarwan (capt), J Cobb, N O'Brien
(wk), D Redfern, B Raine, R Jones, N Buck and C Shreck.
Neil Mallender and Alex Wharf.
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
TOSS |
DECISION |
SURREY |
LEICS |
23-25 Aug 2011 |
Won By 10 Wickets |
Leicester |
Leics |
Bat |
343 & 111-0 |
167 & 286 |
4-6 May 2011 |
Won By 215 Runs |
The Oval |
Leics |
Field |
294 & 311-6d |
183 & 207 |
24-27 Aug 2010 |
Match Drawn |
Leicester |
Leics |
Field |
483 & Forfeited |
123-0d & 338-8 |
4-6 Jun 2010 |
Lost By An Inns & 60 Runs |
The Oval |
Leics |
Bat |
236 & 183 |
479 |
31 Jul - 3 Aug 2009 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Leics |
Bat |
608-4d |
593-5d & 23-0 |
16-19 Jun 2009 |
Match Drawn |
Leicester |
Leics |
Bat |
329 |
165 & 487-5d |
7-10 Jun 2006 |
Won By An Inns & 158 Runs |
The Oval |
Leics |
Bat |
668-7d |
251 & 259 |
26-29 Apr 2006 |
Won By 99 Runs |
Leicester |
Surrey |
Bat |
370 & 287-7d |
244 & 314 |
21-24 Aug 2003 |
Match Drawn |
Leicester |
Surrey |
Bat |
501 & 117-2 |
166 & 636-4d |
14-17 May 2003 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Leics |
Bat |
560-8d |
200 & 185-8 |
18-21 Sep 2002 |
Won By 483 Runs |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
494 & 492-9d |
361 & 142 |
14-16 Aug 2002 |
Won By 7 Wickets |
Leicester |
Surrey |
Bat |
540 & 42-3 |
290 & 289 |
4-7 Jul 2001 |
Match Drawn |
Leicester |
Leics |
Bat |
102 & 478-9 |
165 & 472-8d |
16-19 May 2001 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Leics |
Bat |
190 |
246 & 94-5 |
19-21 Jul 2000 |
Won By 10 Wickets |
Guildford |
Leics |
Bat |
288 & 119-0 |
318 & 87 |
7-9 Jul 2000 |
Won By An Inns & 178 Runs |
Oakham School |
Surrey |
Bat |
505 |
143 & 184 |
9-12 Jun 1999 |
Match Drawn |
Leicester |
Leics |
Bat |
501 |
272 & 239-4 |
17-19 Sep 1998 |
Lost By An Inns & 211 Runs |
The Oval |
Leics |
Bat |
146 & 228 |
585-6d |
21-24 May 1997 |
Match Drawn |
Leicester |
Leics |
Field |
278 & 166-5 |
340 |
13-17 Jun 1996 |
Won By 108 Runs |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
452 & 242-6d |
411 & 175 |
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