MIDDLESEX CRUSADERS V SURREY BROWN CAPS at Lord's (Pro40 Division 2), 5 AUGUST 2007

Assuming 220 would be a match-winning total at Lord's tomorrow, it is interesting to note that Surrey have not made a score against Middlesex exceeding that mark since beating the Crusaders at the Oval in a day/night game in September 1999. On that occasion the home side, who made 243-5, were indebted to Alec Stewart and Graham Thorpe's third wicket partnership of 122.

With the bat, Middlesex currently have three men averaging over forty in List A cricket in 2007 - Nick Compton (44.25), Eoin Morgan (44.42) and Owais Shah (45.41). Shah has passed fifty in five out of his last six List A innings against the Oval outfit. Ed Smith has chipped in from time to time for Middlesex this term, but more was expected than Ed Joyce (24.70) and Jamie Dalrymple (21.62) have so far delivered.

Dalrymple has also been disappointing with the ball. His two one-day wickets have come at a cost of 155.50 and the 26-year-old all-rounder has conceded 5.65 runs per over. However, Surrey old boy Tim Murtagh has come to the party on a number of occasions, taking 21 wickets at 17.00 runs apiece in nine List A outings. The Crusaders' overseas pair, slow left-armer Murali Kartik and left-arm seamer Chaminda Vaas have led the supporting cast.

Vaas, however, is doubtful for tomorrow after bowling just 18 overs in Middlesex's innings and 71-run victory over Glamorgan in the championship this week. The Sri Lankan has been struggling with a back injury. If he does not play perhaps Steve Finn will be given an opportunity to make up for his first two Pro40 appearances this season, which have seen the 6 foot 8 inch tall seamer concede 73 runs in nine overs.

In first-class cricket Alistair Brown averages 96.16 at Lord's. In List A, however, his batting average there is just 14.36.


Mark Butcher needs 47 runs to post 4,000 in all List A cricket, Mark Ramprakash needs 20 to bring up 12,000, while Harbhajan Singh's tally is 999 at an average of 12.97.


Rikki Clarke (flu) and Mark Ramprakash (back) both return to the line-up after sitting out last Sunday's opening Pro40 League encounter against Durham at Guildford. Alistair Brown and James Benning, who both had good second eleven matches up at Durham University in the week, are also included.

OPPONENT DATE COMP RESULT VENUE SURREY OPPONENT
Durham 29 Jul 2007 NL Lost By 7 Wickets Guildford 248-6 (40) 249-3 (36)
Hampshire 13 Jun 2007 FPT Lost By 3 Wickets Rose Bowl 181 (49.5) 182-7 (48.2)
Somerset 10 Jun 2007 FPT Lost By 3 Wickets Bath 214-9 (50) 218-7 (47.5)
Essex 3 Jun 2007 FPT Lost By 8 Runs Whitgift 240 (49.4) 248 (47.3)
Glamorgan 28 May 2007 FPT Won By 3 Wickets Cresselly 206-7 (37) 203-8 (39)


Surrey have lost their last four matches in List A cricket, while Middlesex have started their 2007 Pro40 League campaign with two losses out of three. It would appear, therefore, that these two sides are closely matched. However, if Chaminda Vaas is missing for the home side, the Brown Caps must start favourites, especially as places in Surrey's four-day batting line-up are up for grabs.


E Joyce, E Smith (capt), O Shah, E Morgan, J Dalrymple, B Scott (wk), T Murtagh, C Keegan, M Kartik, C Vaas and A Richardson.


Nigel Llong and John Steele.

DATE COMP RESULT VENUE TOSS DECISION SURREY MIDDX
3 Jul 2007 T20 Lost By 8 Wickets Lord's Middlesex Field 85-5 (13.3) 73-2 (7.4)
22 Jun 2007 T20 Won By 6 Wickets The Oval Middlesex Bat 168-4 (19.2) 163-6 (20)
13 May 2007 FPT No Result The Oval No toss made - - -
7 Jul 2006 T20 Won By 7 Wickets The Oval Middlesex Bat 116-3 (13.1) 115 (18.4)
27 Jun 2006 T20 Won By 40 Runs Lord's Surrey Bat 218-7 (20) 178-7 (20)
11 Jun 2006 C&G Lost By 108 Runs Southgate Middlesex Bat 149 (33.4) 257-9 (50)
28 Jun 2005 T20 Won By 22 Runs The Oval Surrey Bat 180-7 (20) 78-4 (11)
23 Jun 2005 T20 Won By 23 Runs Lord's Surrey Bat 200-3 (20) 177 (19.3)
15 Jul 2004 T20 Won By 37 Runs Lord's Middlesex Field 183-5 (20) 146-7 (20)
13 Jun 2003 T20 Won By 4 Wickets The Oval Surrey Field 158-6 (19.2) 155 (20)
6 Aug 2002 NL Lost By 65 Runs Whitgift School Surrey Field 209 (38.1) 274-8 (45)
7 Jul 2002 NL Won By 8 Wickets Southgate Surrey Field 197-2 (40.2) 194-8 (42)
28 Apr 2002 B&H Lost By 8 Wickets Lord's Middlesex Field 123 (38) 124-2 (30.2)
1 May 2001 B&H No Result The Oval Middlesex Field 146-2 (35) -
6 Aug 2000 NL Won By 5 Wickets Lord's Middlesex Bat 170-5 (39.1) 167-8 (45)
21 May 2000 NL No Result The Oval No toss made - - -
21 Apr 2000 B&H No Result Southgate No toss made - - -

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