Surrey scored their first win in defence of their County Championship crown at Trent Bridge yesterday. Despite encountering unexpected resistance from the Nottinghamshire tail, the visitors coasted home by an innings and six runs with more than five sessions to spare. It took them nearly eighteen overs to pick up the last four wickets; the batting of Steve Elworthy – 52 off 73 balls – in particular, coming close to making the Oval outfit bat again.

Paul Franks also contributed a nifty twenty-five. Having flicked Azhar Mahmood through square leg for four in the first over of the day, he on drove and pulled the Pakistani all-rounder for two further boundaries. Meanwhile, Elworthy saved his best shots for Martin Bicknell, whom he pulled for four to bring up the hundred in the 35th over. The South African then proceeded to hit him for consecutive boundaries to post the fifty stand for home side’s seventh wicket in just twelve overs.

However, in the next over Franks edged Azhar to the left of Brown at first slip. Minutes later Greg Smith sliced Bicknell to the wider of two fly slips. Then, before Charlie Shreck partnered Steve Elworthy in 38-run stand for the tenth wicket, one that shot through caught Andy Harris in the crease. Elworthy, who also hooked Martin Bicknell for six, was last out when he too fell into the trap set by the ever-inventive Hollioake, who had stationed Azhar Mahmood at the finer of two fly slips.

Martin Bicknell finished with five for 83, his best figures in this season’s championship. He now has eight first-class wickets, a haul second only to Jimmy Ormond’s eighteen at an average of 14.44. Ormond, who was not called upon yesterday, claimed match figures of eight for 71.

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