Yesterday, after the home side had taken their total just over the 400-mark, Kent advanced to 101 for two in thirty-three overs to leave the match nicely poised. With the reduction of 39 overs, in addition to the loss of forty on Wednesday, this morning’s opening passage of play will almost certainly dictate terms. The ball is already gripping for Saqlain Mushtaq and Ian Salisbury, but Ed Smith and, in particular, Andrew Symonds showed no signs of succumbing in last night’s descending gloom. So far, the pair have added 61 for visitors’ third wicket.

Earlier they had the slow left-arm of Robert Ferley, who took four for 76 on his championship debut, and the medium pace of Ben Trott to thank for polishing off Surrey inside thirty-two overs. Mind you, the champions did chug along at very nearly five an over.

Mark Butcher added 27 to his overnight score before being caught behind off Trott. Alistair Brown, who took 25 balls to register his first boundary, then clubbed Ferley for six over long-on in the 78th over. But after Brown had hit the 21-year-old down to third man for four and despatched him for another six over long-off in his next, the world one-day record holder picked out Symonds at short extra cover.

The second ball back after the extended break for lunch saw Alec Stewart give Mark Ealham a simple return chance. But, with clear orders to get on with it, Alex Tudor and Martin Bicknell then added 31 in just over a quarter of an hour.

Bicknell played some attractive shots behind square on the off side before confidence got the better of him and he top-edged a sweep to short square leg, where Jones, rather than Carberry, claimed the catch.

Alex Tudor, who had cover driven Rob Ferley for two fours, attempted to do the same to his replacement at the Pavilion End and was brilliantly caught at gully off a thick outside edge by Ealham.

Four balls later Saqlain was aiming to despatch Ben Trott over long-on when he had his leg stump flattened by the tall west countryman, but Salisbury and Ormond claimed the fifth batting point by bludgeoning 42 off 33 deliveries for the last wicket.

Their entertaining stroke frustrating alliance – depending on your allegiances – came to an end when Jimmy Ormond, who straight drove Trott for six, mowed Rob Ferley to wide mid-on to leave Ian Salisbury undefeated on 34.

The Kent openers had put on 25 when Saqlain Mushtaq stuck with his fifth ball – Michael Carberry, making his championship return to The Oval, being caught behind off a combination of bat and pad by Stewart.

Eight overs later David Fulton was trapped on the crease by the fourth ball of Martin Bicknell’s third spell for 14 and one wondered whether it was the start of a collapse. But Andy Symonds came up with the most emphatic of rejoinders by hitting the first ball he faced from Saqlain straight for six with the minimum of effort.

GO TO:

BACK TO: