SURREY V NOTTINGHAMSHIRE at the Brit Oval (LVCC1), 17-20 SEPTEMBER 2008

Well, Surrey are all but relegated, however there is nothing like finishing the season on a high, which was what happened when the Brown Caps last went down, by recording an emphatic victory over Middlesex. The good news for the home side is that Nottinghamshire's championship challenge appears to be running out of steam. Since the abandonment of their clash with Durham at Chester-le-Street, the Trent Bridge outfit have registered draws against Sussex and Somerset.

In the game at Hove, Will Jefferson, who is averaging 18.06 in the championship, recorded his highest score of the campaign. With Mark Wagh and Bilal Shafayat also making hundreds in that contest, Nottinghamshire appear to be in better shape with the bat than when they entertained Surrey back in July and avoided defeat thanks to Samit Patel and Graeme Swann's rearguard on the final day.

The Trent Bridge outfit's strength is undoubtedly with the ball. They currently have seven bowlers who have taken 10 or more championship wickets at an average of 30.04 or less. Stuart Broad and Ryan Sidebottom are two of them. They will not feature in this match, but expect the remain five to do so; the pick of which, for me, is Darren Pattinson, who has claimed his 41 victims at a cost of 23.60 runs apiece.

With John Steele standing as one of the umpires in this match, expect Mark Ramprakash to be on his best behaviour; given that the volley the former Middlesex man gave Steele at the end of day one against Sussex has landed him a disciplinary hearing at Lord's next week. But, significantly, Steele has umpired 15 championship matches involving Surrey and the Brown Caps haven't lost any of them. His "record" is seven wins and eight draws.


Usman Afzaal (929 runs) and Scott Newman (971 runs) are both approaching 1,000 f-c runs for the season. Mark Wagh, with 863 championship runs this season, looks likely to be the only Notts batsman to break through the 1,000-run barrier this term. 


With Jade Dernbach (Achilles) and Saqlain Mushtaq out of contention, Surrey have called up Simon King, who will take Saqlain's place, and Stuart Meaker and Lee Hodgson, one of whom will fill in for Dernbach. Chris Murtagh is recalled and seems likely to open. The hope is that a run of first wicket partnerships which, of late, have read 0, 10, 3, 9, 0, 2 and 23 can only improve. 

OPPONENT DATE RESULT VENUE SURREY OPPONENT
Hampshire 9-12 Sep 2008 Lost By An Inns & 122 Runs The Oval 210 & 148 480-8d
Kent 4-7 Sep 2008 Match Drawn Canterbury 307-9d 160-1
Lancashire 27-30 Aug 2008 Match Abandoned Blackpool - -
Sussex 20-23 Aug 2008 Match Drawn The Oval 455 & 171-7d 328 & 154-3
Somerset 12-15 Aug 2008 Match Drawn Taunton 406-9 401-3d


For once, the forecasters are saying that we are unlikely to see any rain over the next four days, so a positive result is definitely on the cards. Some people are saying that Nottinghamshire are on course to win the title. With Broad and Sidebottom under orders from the England management to rest, I don't share that view. For me, Durham are the cream of Division One. Given that Nottinghamshire have struggled with the bat at times and that their bowlers are used to plying their trade on helpful wickets at Trent Bridge, this match is a potential banana skin. For the Brown Caps there is no pressure. If they go out with the intention of enjoying themselves they might just edge this contest. Yes - Surrey win.


W Jefferson, B Shafayat, A Adams, M Wagh, A Prince, M Wood, C Read (capt, wk), G Swann, M Ealham, D Pattinson and C Shreck.


John Holder and John Steele.

DATE RESULT VENUE TOSS DECISION SURREY NOTTS
11-14 Jul 2008 Match Drawn Trent Bridge Notts Field 403 218 & 372-6
26-29 Jul 2005 Match Drawn Trent Bridge Surrey Bat 136 & 292-6d 226 & 169-8
6-9 May 2005 Lost By An Inns & 71 Runs The Oval Surrey Bat 217 & 404 692-7d
13-15 Aug 2003 Won By An Inns & 211 Runs Whitgift School Surrey Bat 693 240 & 242
9-11 May 2003 Won By An Inns & 6 Runs Trent Bridge Notts Bat 393 211 & 176
1-2 Sep 1999 Won By 10 Wickets The Oval Notts Bat 199 & 153-0 115 & 233
19-21 Aug 1998 Won By 7 Wickets Trent Bridge Surrey Field 270 & 72-3 213 & 125
27-30 Jun 1997 Won By 131 Runs The Oval Surrey Bat 201-9d & 123-6d 73-1d & 120
22-26 Aug 1996 Match Drawn Trent Bridge Notts Bat 128-4d & 53-0 446-9d & Forfeited
20-24 Jul 1995 Won By 171 Runs Guildford Notts Field 239 & 528-9d 324 & 272
21-23 Jul 1994 Won By An Inns & 231 Runs Trent Bridge Notts Bat 604-4d 125 & 248
29-31 Jul 1993 Won By 3 Wickets The Oval Surrey Bat 228 & 147-7 68 & 306
7-10 Sep 1992 Lost By 5 Wickets Trent Bridge Surrey Bat 207 & 411 357 & 262-5
21-23 Jul 1992 Lost By 3 Wickets The Oval Notts Field 333-4d & 219-7d 201-2d & 352-7

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