SURREY LIONS V KENT SPITFIRES at the AMP Oval (NL1), 18 MAY 2003

The Kent Spitfires go into tomorrow's encounter with only one win out of three in this summer's National Cricket League.  The home side, on the other hand, are unbeaten and although all of their matches have gone the distance the Lions have given the appearance of a team capable of mounting a serious title challenge.

So far, for the visitors, Robert Key and Matt Walker are averaging over forty with the bat.  That said, Walker has only gone past two on one occasion - when the 29-year-old left-hander made an unbeaten 82 in the opening day victory against the Leicestershire Foxes.  Skipper Mark Ealham came off as pinch-hitting opener on that occasion and thus far has been the Spitfires' most positive performer.

But Kent's strength lies in their bowling, which has rarely, if at all, needed to call upon a few overs from Blewett and Walker.  The former Somerset seamer Peter Trego has been a key man this summer.  To date the 21-year-old has taken six one-day league wickets at an average of 17.00.  Ealham has bowled tightly, but the most complete performance in terms of wickets as well as economy has so far come from the rejuvenated Ben Trott.

For the Lions, Martin Bicknell needs just one more wicket to equal Robin Jackman's record Sunday League haul of 234.  Also, Saqlain Mushtaq needs two more victims to reach a hundred in total in one-day cricket for Surrey.


Surrey's recent limited-overs record against Kent has been a bit up and down, but if one of their big hitters can come off tomorrow it is hard to see the visitors coming up with any answers.


Alex Tudor is the only Lions player to have appeared in one-day cricket this year who is not available.  He had keyhole surgery on a troublesome knee today.  Graham Thorpe is expected to return to the Surrey fold, as are Jonathan Batty and Jimmy Ormond.


M Ealham (capt), R Key, E Smith, G Blewett, M Walker, M Carberry, P Trego, G Jones (wk), J Tredwell, M Saggers and B Trott.

4 May 2002 B&H Won By 44 Runs The Oval
14 Aug 2001 NL Lost By 43 Runs Canterbury
24 Jun 2001 NL Lost By 2 Wickets The Oval
7 May 2001 B&H Lost By 1 Run Canterbury
16 Apr 2000 B&H No Result The Oval
6 Sep 1998 NL Won By 41 Runs The Oval
6 May 1998 B&H Won By 4 Wickets Canterbury
12 Jul 1997 B&H Won By 8 Wickets Lord's
4 May 1997 NL Lost By 12 Runs Canterbury
28 Apr 1997 B&H Lost By 4 Wickets The Oval
12 May 1996 NL Won By 150 Runs The Oval
6 Aug 1995 NL Lost By 55 Runs Canterbury
25 Apr 1995 B&H Lost By 93 Runs Canterbury
18 Sep 1994 NL Won By 24 Runs The Oval
8 Aug 1993 NL Lost By 54 Runs Canterbury
10 Jun 1992 B&H Lost By 2 Wickets Canterbury
17 May 1992 NL Lost By 3 Wickets The Oval
4 Aug 1991 NL Won By 6 Wickets Canterbury
11 Jul 1991 NWT Won By 7 Wickets The Oval
22 Jul 1990 NL Won By 5 Wickets The Oval

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