SURREY V HAMPSHIRE at the Kia Oval (Metro Bank One-Day Cup)
18 AUGUST 2025

Eighth in Group A host third. Last Friday's clash at Chelmsford could hardly have been more one-sided, with Essex racking up their highest total in List A (417-6) before bowling out Surrey for 173.

"We still want to see better," said Alec Stewart afterwards. "They had five or six regular first-team players and we have two or three; it shows the difference. The pitch didn’t offer much to the bowlers, but it’s part of their education.

"In adversity can you find something good out of it? I'll ask each individual to reflect on what they might do different knowing that they are still starting their careers and consistency will be an area that needs to be improved on.

"Progress was made in the first three games, but today was three steps back."

Even though Tilak Varma (29 international caps for India in white-ball cricket) failed to deliver with the bat, Hampshire have piled up runs aplenty thanks to openers Nick Gubbins (325 in the Metro Bank at an average of 108.33) and Ali Orr (215 at 53.75). On top of that, Joe Weatherley, Felix Organ and wicketkeeper Ben Mayes have gleefully accepted opportunities to dip their bread.

Eddie Jack, 19, has really stepped up with the ball, taking 7 wickets at 26.14 runs apiece, as have Dominic Kelly, also 19, while 25-year-old slow left-armer Andrew Neal has been more than just economical. But the class act is the vastly experienced South African seamer Kyle Abbott. Another seasoned campaigner, James Fuller, looks set to make his first List A appearance of the summer.

Surrey v Hampshire - List A Records Sheet

Left-arm spinner Ralphie Albert could on the brink of making his professional debut. Meanwhile, Rory Burns (1,913) is eyeing up 2,000 List A career runs and Cam Steel (45) fifty one-day wickets. Turning to the visitors... Both Fletcha Middleton (908) and Ali Orr (885) are on course to hit 1,000 List A career runs this season.

Tommy Ealham, Matt Fisher, Ryan Patel and Dom Sibley all remain sidelined, so it's a case of as you were, unless the South Londoners opt to hand a debut to 17-year-old Ralphie Albert.

Not only are Surrey coming off the back of their heaviest defeat in List A cricket (in terms of runs), Hampshire, who have won five out of their last six one-day clashes with the Oval outfit, are very much in the mix for a knockout berth. Prediction - Hampshire.

A.Orr, N.Gubbins (capt), J.Weatherley, F.Middleton, F.Organ, B.Mayes (wk), K.Abbott, J.Fuller, D.Kelly, A.Neal and E.Jack.

Rob Bailey and Bilal Shafayat.

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