SURREY LIONS V NORTHAMPTONSHIRE STEELBACKS at the Kia Oval (CB40), 3 AUGUST 2011

While Surrey are riding high in Group B of the Clydesdale Bank 40, Northamptonshire cannot afford any further slip-ups if they are to progress to the knockout phase. The Steelbacks opened their CB40 campaign with five successive wins, but a rot now appears to have set in following three defeats to Scotland, Leicestershire and Hampshire.

Northamptonshire's biggest handicap has been the lack of a partnership-breaker with the ball. Andrew Hall currently has 12 CB40 wickets at 24.41 runs apiece, but has conceded an average of 6.23 runs per over. Chaminda Vaas, who is ruled out of tomorrow's contest due to a back problem, is really the only Steelback to have both kept things tight as well as provide a cutting edge.

It has been a better story with the bat. Niall O'Brien, Andrew Hall and James Middlebrook are currently averaging over sixty in this competition. Stephen Peters and Alex Wakely have been steady contributors. But Rob White and Mal Loye have struggled. Indeed, Loye, who notched up seven ODI appearances for England, appears to be a shadow of his former self. This summer he has made just 26 runs in four CB40 innings.

Click here for the Surrey v Northamptonshire List A Records sheet.


Matthew Spriegel is 41 shy of 1,000 List A career runs, while Yasir Arafat needs one more wicket for 350 List A scalps. Northamptonshire's Andrew Hall is set to make his 300th List A appearance.


Mark Ramprakash has surprisingly been named in Surrey's squad. Should he play, it will be the great man's first one-day appearance of the season. Yasir Arafat is included despite rumours that his days at the Oval are numbered (with India's Pragyan Ojha apparently lined-up to fill the Lions' overseas berth). Chris Jordan and Gary Wilson are the other two surprise inclusions. The clever money must be on the hosts fielding the same eleven that beat Warwickshire at Guildford ten days ago.  

OPPONENT DATE COMP RESULT VENUE SURREY OPPONENT
Warwickshire 24 Jul 2011 NL Won By 3 Wickets Guildford 227-7 (38.5) 225-8 (40)
Durham 17 Jul 2011 NL Abandoned The Riverside - -
Hampshire 22 May 2011 NL Won By 36 Runs Whitgift Sch 311-7 (40) 275 (38.4)
Scotland 15 May 2011 NL Won By 48 Runs Edinburgh 257-7 (40) 209-9 (40)
Leicestershire 8 May 2011 NL Won By 17 Runs The Oval 206-8 (40) 189 (38.3)


Northants are in freefall, so Surrey will start as hot favourites. But, at The Oval, the Lions have lost five out of their last seven floodlit contests in this competition, or its predecessors. Although recent history suggests the outcome of the toss is not significant, 13 out of the 15 toss-winners at have elected to bat first under lights at The Oval. If Surrey win the toss, bat first and set Northants a target of 220 or more expect a Lions victory. But, if they are made to chase, it could be a good match for the neutrals.


M Loye, S Peters, N O'Brien (wk), R White, A Wakely, A Hall (capt), J Middlebrook, D Willey, D Lucas, J Brooks and L Daggett.


Neil Bainton and Richard Illingworth.

DATE COMP RESULT VENUE TOSS DECISION SURREY NORTHANTS
13 Sep 2009 NL Lost By 8 Wickets Northampton Northants Field 134 (35.2) 135-2 (15.3)
17 Aug 2008 NL Won By 63 Runs The Oval Northants Field 268-6 (40) 205 (36)
29 Aug 2004 NL Lost By 5 Wickets Northampton Surrey Bat 179-7 (41) 191-5 (39.5)
27 Jul 2004 NL Won By 39 Runs The Oval Surrey Bat 265-6 (45) 226 (41.3)
3 Aug 2002 NL Lost By 102 Runs Whitgift Sch Northants Bat 162 (27) 277-5 (40)
4 Jun 2002 NL Lost By 5 Runs Northampton Northants Bat 224 (44.2) 229-6 (45)
22 Jul 2001 NL Lost By 8 Wickets Guildford Northants Field 195 (41.1) 176-2 (30.2)
3 Jun 2001 NL Won By 4 Wickets Northampton Surrey Field 217-6 (43) 213-6 (45)
28 Jul 1999 NWT Won By 7 Wickets Northampton Northants Bat 156-3 (35.3) 152 (35.5)
13 Jun 1999 NL Lost By 5 Runs Northampton Northants Bat 230-9 (45) 235-8 (45)
25 Apr 1999 NL Lost By 4 Wickets The Oval Surrey Bat 207-9 (45) 211-6 (43.2)
19 Apr 1998 NL No Result The Oval Surrey Field - 162-5 (34)
27 Jul 1997 NL Lost By 5 Wickets Northampton Surrey Bat 206-7 (40) 208-5 (38.3)
8 Sep 1996 NL Won By 2 Wickets The Oval Surrey Field 237-8 (40) 234-9 (40)
21 May 1995 NL Won By 14 Runs Northampton Surrey Bat 256-5 (40) 242-7 (40)

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