FLOWER REFUSES TO WILT IN THE FACE OF SURREY PRESSURE by Marcus Hook
Surrey 433 v Essex 365 & 244.

The 45th first-class century of Andy Flower's career was the only thing that stood between Surrey and victory yesterday. It was a masterful innings - a combination of patience and sheer class. Before the former Zimbabwe Test captain was joined by Andre Adams late in the day, Flower's innings looked as if it would be in losing cause. It yet might be, but the hosts will do well not to regard their target of 177 as a formality. It is no accident that Essex came into this contest as joint leaders of Division Two and when Gough, Tudor and Bichel are all fit and available Ronnie Irani's men will be tough opponents.

When the visitors disposed of Azhar Mahmood in the first over of the day's proceedings, they probably had hopes of restricting Surrey to a slender first innings lead. But, with Martin Bicknell and Ian Salisbury getting after Ryan ten Doeschate, Surrey's advantage at the halfway stage was a valuable 68.

Bicknell was trapped leg before back in his crease by Adams. Five overs later, after edging a couple of fours to third man, Salisbury miscued a pull to deep mid-on before Mohammad Akram became the third lbw victim of the day to hand ten Doeschate career best figures of five for 143.

The "great and mighty" Azhar Mahmood soon worked out that Varun Chopra has a penchant for the cover drive and kept the youngster on the back foot. In the eleventh over the Pakistan all-rounder switched to round the wicket and had Chopra pouched at second slip. Mark Pettini and Ravi Bopara went in successive overs, the former, well forward, nicking one that moved away off the seam, and the latter giving a thick outside edge to third slip.

Ronnie Irani kept Andy Flower company for twenty overs before Akram got one to keep low. But before Adams came out all guns blazing, the only real partnership of note was for the fifth Essex wicket between Flower and James Foster. The pair added 58 in fourteen overs, during which time Flower swept Doshi over mid-wicket for six to bring up his half-century in 95 deliveries.

Foster was caught at backward point and Ten Doeschate lofted a one-handed drive to Rikki Clarke at wide mid-off. Clarke was in the action again, in the second over after tea, when his accurate throw from short fine leg to the bowler's end accounted for James Middlebrook, who failed to get back after Flower refused to budge.

For thirteen overs Tim Phillips batted with impeccable discipline until he was lured into coming down the wicket and presenting Mark Ramprakash with a simple catch at wide mid-on.

Four overs later Flower showed Phillips how the stroke should have been played and went to 98 by launching Doshi over long-on for a maximum. He reached his century off 187 balls with a four driven through extra cover off Ian Salisbury; though not before Andre Adams had clubbed Doshi straight down the ground for six.

Adams repeated the stroke shortly after Flower was caught off bat and thigh pad at short leg for a superb 111. That he walked rather than wait for the umpire's decision produced a gesture of appreciation from the Surrey skipper Mark Butcher.

Flower and Adams's fifty-run partnership for the ninth wicket sets up a fascinating final day.

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