WORCESTERSHIRE ROYALS v SURREY LIONS at Worcester (CB40 League), 3 MAY 2010

Hold on, haven't we just played Worcestershire? We did, at home. Now we're playing them away. But perhaps I shouldn't complain that the Lions are meeting Worcestershire again so soon, because since they held on for a draw against Surrey at Whitgift, Vikram Solanki's men have lost to Sussex in the CB40 and to Glamorgan in the championship.

Just as I predicted before the start of the season, Worcestershire do not appear to be equipped for any form of the game, particularly in conditions that suit spin. Mind you that should change when Shakib Al Hasan arrives, although that won't be any time soon.

A week ago at Hove, they mustered just 144-9 from their 40 overs, with only three Royals batsmen finding the boundary more than twice. In reply, the Sussex Sharks cruised home with over fifteen overs up their sleeve. Jack Shantry's left-arm medium pace came in for a bit of a hammering, so with 26-year-old all-rounder Gareth Andrew fit for tomorrow's game that's one change we can expect Worcestershire to make.

A lack of runs in one-day cricket was also a problem for the Royals last season. Other than Steven Davies, who, of course, is now a Lion, no Worcestershire batsman made over 375 runs in List A cricket in 2009. Another concern for them is that they have also lost their best performer with the ball last term - Gareth Batty.


Mark Ramprakash is set to make his 400th appearance in List A one-day cricket, while Chris Tremlett could be making his first for the Lions. Of the Royals' line-up, Alexei Kervezee goes into this contest with 963 List A career runs.


The same 13-man squad for today's abandoned fixture against the Unicorns moves on to New Road, Worcester, where Chris Tremlett is expected to make his debut for Surrey.

OPPONENT DATE COMP RESULT VENUE SURREY OPPONENT
Unicorns 2 May 2010  NL Abandoned The Oval - -
Lancashire 25 Apr 2010 NL Won By 2 Wickets Whitgift Sch 285-8 (38.5) 290-6 (40)
Leicestershire 27 Sep 2009 NL Won By 4 Wickets Leicester 228-6 (39.1) 225-4 (40)
Warwickshire 16 Sep 2009 NL Lost By 9 Wickets The Oval 200-8 (40) 201-1 (35)
Northamptonshire 13 Sep 2009 NL Lost By 8 Wickets Northampton 134 (35.2) 135-2 (15.3)


Looking back over the recent meetings between these two sides, there have been more than a few close ones. Worcestershire's ground fielding in the championship match at Whitgift a week or so ago was pretty ordinary. Furthermore the margin of their defeat to Sussex on the opening weekend, must make Surrey favourites. Prediction - a win for the Lions (weather permitting). 


V Solanki (capt), P Jaques, M Ali, A Kervezee, B Smith, D Mitchell, J Cameron, B Scott (wk), G Andrew, R Jones and C Whelan.


Jeremy Lloyds and George Sharp.

DATE COMP RESULT VENUE TOSS DECISION SURREY WORCS
16 Sep 2006 NL Won By 13 Runs Worcester Surrey Bat 220-6 (40) 207-9 (40)
19 Jul 2004 T20 Won By 14 Runs The Oval Surrey Bat 145-7 (20) 131-8 (20)
27 Jul 2003 NL Lost By 79 Runs Guildford Surrey Field 140 (37.1) 219-6 (45)
5 May 2003 NL Won By 1 Wicket Worcester Worcestershire Bat 247-9 (41.3) 244-5 (45)
7 Jul 1999 NWT Won By 5 Wickets Worcester Worcestershire Bat 206-5 (46.5) 204-9 (50)
28 Jun 1998 NL Lost By 1 Run The Oval Worcestershire Bat 179-9 (39) 180 (39.1)
22 Jun 1997 NL Lost By 7 Wickets Worcester Worcestershire Field 149 (37) 150-3 (31.3)
14 Jul 1996 NL Won (Scoring Rate) The Oval Surrey Field 162-2 (24) 175 (39.5)
4 Jun 1995 NL Lost By 9 Wickets Worcester Surrey Bat 126 (39.3) 129-1 (24.4)
9 Aug 1994 NWT Lost By 7 Runs The Oval Surrey Field 350 (59.5) 357-2 (60)
12 Jul 1994 NL Lost By 9 Wickets The Oval Surrey Bat 221-6 (40) 223-1 (36.3)
15 Aug 1993 NL Lost By 37 Runs Worcester Surrey Field 157 (44.1) 194 (48.4)
14 Jun 1992 NL Won By 4 Wickets The Oval Worcestershire Bat 201-6 (39.2) 200 (39.5)
2 Jun 1991 NL No Result Worcester Surrey Field 45-0 (8) 199-4 (31)
17 Jun 1990 NL Won By 7 Wickets The Oval Surrey Field 180-3 (38.5) 177-9 (40)

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