SURREY LIONS V ESSEX EAGLES at the AMP Oval (NL1), 8 JUNE 2003

Surrey have not lost in the one-day arena since the middle of August last year, enjoying a run of ten straight wins.  Two of them have been against tomorrow's visitors to the AMP Oval, who will be keen to end Sunday right up there in terms of the Division One reckoning.

In limited-overs cricket this summer Will Jefferson has been head and shoulders above everyone else - literally as well as metaphorically - with the bat for Essex.  The 6ft 10ins tall opener has so far made 321 runs at an average of 53.50, made at more than a run a ball.  But with 19-year-old Mark Pettini recording an unbeaten 92 against Warwickshire in the C&G Trophy the other day, it cannot be long before he ousts one of the more familiar names in the Eagles line up - Darren Robinson, perhaps?  A support cast of Flower, Habib, Irani and wicketkeeper James Foster would be the envy of many counties, though not Surrey.

The emergence of Graham Napier may have been a frustrating for the Essex faithful.  Without wishing to be premature, the patience shown in him now appears to be bearing fruit.  He leads the Eagles' one-day bowling averages this season with 16 wickets at 11.93 runs apiece.  Generally, for an attack that many criticise for lacking bite - particularly over four days - Napier, Brant, Dakin and Irani have proved a handful at times.  Perhaps the only thing that has let Essex down is their fielding, which, over the years, has benefited from the safe hands of Mark Waugh and Stuart Law to name just a couple.


Surrey will be favourites to win, but the Eagles have come back strongly since their opening NCL defeat at the hands of the Lions.  Their confidence has also been restored in the championship, following a win over Nottinghamshire and a salvaged draw against Middlesex.  This could be another close one if the weather holds.


The home side will be without the services of Alex Tudor and, probably, Martin Bicknell.  With Pakistan's short tour of England beginning on Monday it remains to be seen if Azhar Mahmood will be available.  All in all, therefore, Surrey's one-day seam attack could have a very different look about it tomorrow. 


W Jefferson, A Flower, J Foster (wk), R Irani (capt), M Pettini, A Habib, P Grayson, G Napier, J Dakin, J Middlebrook and S Brant.

27 Apr 2003 NL Won By 15 Runs Chelmsford
8 Sep 2002 NL Won By 2 Runs Chelmsford
28 Jul 2002 NL Won By 73 Runs Guildford
2 May 2002 B&H Lost By 4 Wickets Chelmsford
5 May 2001 B&H Won By 6 Wickets The Oval
23 Aug 2000 NL Lost By 23 Runs Colchester
29 May 2000 NL No Result The Oval
15 Apr 2000 B&H No Result Chelmsford
14 Jun 1998 NL Lost By 26 Runs Chelmsford
8 Jun 1997 NL Lost By 6 Wickets The Oval
27 May 1997 B&H Won By 6 Wickets Chelmsford
13 Aug 1996 NWT Lost By 4 Wickets The Oval
30 Jun 1996 NL Lost By 27 Runs Southend
9 Jul 1995 NL Lost By 61 Runs The Oval
14 Aug 1994 NL Won By 6 Wickets Colchester
16 May 1993 NL Won By 2 Wickets The Oval
26 Apr 1992 NL Lost By 10 Wickets Chelmsford
31 Jul 1991 NWT Won By 31 Runs The Oval
26 May 1991 NL Won By 7 Wickets The Oval
23 Apr 1991 B&H Lost By 53 Runs The Oval
19 Aug 1990 NL No Result Chelmsford

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