SURREY V WORCESTERSHIRE at the Kia Oval (VCC)
17-20 MAY 2024

Top plays host to seventh. Surrey have opened up a significant gap on both second-placed Essex and third-placed Somerset, following a third successive victory. The nine-wicket win over Warwickshire sees the South Londoners 21 points clear at the head of affairs.

Worcestershire travel to the Oval as one of the top flight’s four winless teams. Ominously for them, two of the other three have already succumbed to Surrey.

But despite being widely tipped to go straight back down this season, the Pears have given a decent account of themselves so far. Last week, they put Kent’s attack to the sword (much as Rory Burns' men did when they travelled to Canterbury) by making over 600.

Not only are they grieving for team-mate Josh Baker, who died recently at the age of 20, Worcestershire have also been forced to play their home games at Kidderminster due to recurrent flooding at New Road.

Kashif Ali has been a revelation with the bat in the opening weeks of the campaign, scoring 372 runs at an average of 74.40. Openers Jake Libby (368 at 61.33) and Gareth Roderick (347 at 49.57) have also hit the ground running, while Matthew Waite and Nathan Smith appear to be enjoying good form with the willow heading into this clash.

Smith (15 wickets at 23.40 runs apiece) has led the way for the Pears with the cherry in hand, but the Kiwi all-rounder has been ably supported by Adam Finch (11 at 32.36) and Joe Leach (11 at 36.27). 23-year-old left-arm seamer Ben Gibbon is worth keeping an eye on. Following the sad loss of Josh Baker, skipper Brett D'Oliveira is shouldering the spin duties.

Surrey v Worcestershire - First-Class Records Sheet

Ollie Pope looks set to make his 100th f-c appearance, Dom Sibley (7,954) is within touching distance of 8,000 first-class career runs, Worcestershire's Rob Jones (1,976) needs another 24 for 2,000, Joe Leach (4,933) another 67 for 4,000, while, if he plays, Yadvinder Singh will be making his f-c debut.

Gus Atkinson and Ryan Patel augment the eleven that overcame Warwickshire in the Oval outfit's 13-man squad.

This weekend’s clash will be only the fifth championship meeting between Surrey and Worcestershire at the Oval since 2006. The last three in SE11, going back to 2012, have ended in draws, but with Surrey flying at the moment, it would take a brave man to predict anything other than a win for the hosts.

G.Roderick (wk), J.Libby, Kashif Ali, B.D’Oliveira (capt), A.Hose, R.Jones, M.Waite, N.Smith, J.Leach, A.Finch and B.Gibbon.

Ian Blackwell and Graham Lloyd.

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