HAMPSHIRE V SURREY at the Rose Bowl (SSCC1), 10-13 SEPTEMBER 2019

Fourth in Division One plays host to seventh. The hosts still entertain hopes of a top three finish - something they haven't achieved since 2008 - while Surrey will simply be looking to build on the first meeting between these two, in which the Oval outfit had by far the better of a draw thanks to Ollie Pope's superb 221. Indeed, Pope goes into this contest averaging 138.50 against Hampshire in first-class cricket.

Liam Dawson, Sam Northeast and, of late, James Vince have become a formidable triumvirate with the bat for Hampshire. And with all but Abbott and Edwards averaging over 25.00 in this year's County Championship the Rose Bowl outfit look guaranteed to put runs on the board; especially at Southampton where, in the last game (against Kent), the first innings totals produced a combined 964 runs.

Aside from Kyle Abbott, Fidel Edwards and Keith Barker, no one has looked capable of taking ten or more wickets in this season's championship; which must be a worry for Hampshire long term. That said, Felix Organ's occasional off-spin looks more than useful.

Surrey v Hampshire - First-Class Records Sheet

Morne Morkel is set to make his 150th first-class appearance. The 9,000 f-c run-mark is gradually coming into view for Scott Borthwick (8,915), but Rikki Clarke (10,997) looks odds on to reach 11,000 over the next few days. In the other dressing room, Liam Dawson is one pole away from notching up 200 first-class wickets.

Jade Dernbach has been added to the Surrey squad, even though Surrey's Beneficiary is set to jet off to the Caribbean to hook up with the Jamaican Tallawahs. Dean Elgar also returns as overseas player and the inclusion of Jamie Smith is a welcome sight given the absence of Burns, Roy and Sam Curran, which is likely to leave the batting weakened.

Given that Surrey had the better of these two a few weeks ago and that the Rose Bowl tends to produce plenty of runs, I'm going for a high-scoring draw. But if Hampshire do have designs on finishing in the top three, perhaps they will ask the groundsman at the Ageas Bowl to leave a bit more grass on it. Put it this way, the weather appears unlikely to factor.

F.Organ, I.Holland, T.Alsop, S.Northeast, J.Vince (capt), L.Dawson, A.Donald, L.McManus (wk), K.Barker, K.Abbott and F.Edwards.

Mike Burns and Ian Gould.

GO TO:




BACK TO: