ADSHED FRUSTRATES SURREY AGAIN THIS TIME WITH MAIDEN TON by Marcus Hook
Surrey 29-1 v Gloucestershire 350.

It used to the case that Surrey’s tail could be relied upon in times of trouble, but not any longer. Yesterday, however, it was the turn of Gloucestershire’s lower order to make up for the failings of the top half, not for the first time this summer against eleven frustrated Ovalites. The fulcrum of the visitors’ total of 350 was Steve Adshed’s unbeaten 148, which came in 280 minutes off 209 balls and included 25 fours – his maiden first-class century.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Gloucestershire were three down as early as the fifth over, but recovered to post a respectable total thanks, initially, to stand-in skipper Alex Gidman – who underlined his promise with an attractive 84 off 118 balls – and then Adshed. The pair revived memories of their 253-run partnership in the corresponding fixture at Bristol six weeks ago, which triggered Surrey’s current slump in the County Championship. But on this occasion they combined for a relatively modest 110 in 29 overs before Gidman played round a straightening delivery from the destroyer from the morning session, Azhar Mahmood.

On a wicket that looked tailor-made for batting, Surrey would not have been too disheartened at the close were it not for the loss of Scott Newman, who fell for the trap set for the loose upper cut.

A combination of injuries and Harbhajan Singh’s international commitments resulted in Mark Butcher, Graham Thorpe and Saqlain Mushtaq appearing in the same four-day line-up for only the second time in over two years. Of these, the surprise inclusion was that of Saqlain, who is now formerly Harbhajan’s replacement for the rest of the season; though it remains to be seen just how long for.

The Pakistani got through a workload of 28 overs – more than any other bowler – and was ultimately rewarded with the wicket of James Averis. But he struggled on two counts, firstly to get the same degree of turn he enjoyed in last week’s encounter with Bangladesh A, and secondly on account of his stiff knees. But needs must and with Azhar pulling up with cramp and Tim Murtagh leaving the field at one stage with what appeared to be a tweaked left hamstring, the banged up Surrey attack will no doubt be hoping for a day off today.

Had Gidman and Adshed not blocked their path, the Ovalites’ bowlers could have had their feet up by tea. Craig Spearman was the first to go, trapped leg before by Azhar. Ramnaresh Sarwan departed first ball to a return catch and, in the very next over, Kadeer Ali obligingly steered Mohammad Akram into the waiting hands of Graham Thorpe at second slip. Windows and Gidman put on 58 in fifteen overs before the former edged behind, but that signalled the start of the visitors’ rearguard.

Even after Gidman had departed the scene, Adshed hung around for a further 57 overs, profiting from anything loose on leg stump or dropped short. Nayan Doshi claimed his fiftieth first-class wicket for Surrey and his first in a championship match at the Oval, when Ian Fisher was caught at silly point, and then accounted for Malinga Banadra shortly afterwards, but James Averis and William Rudge proved to be tougher cookies to crack.

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