KENT’S GAMBLE ENDS IN HUMILIATION by Marcus Hook
Surrey 401 & 251-3d v Kent 352-5d & 114. Surrey win by 186 runs.

Half an hour before tea on day three it appeared as if yet another championship game at the AMP Oval was heading for a draw. But then, Mark Butcher left the field and the captains got together to see if there was some way in which a finish could be set-up. David Fulton, the Kent skipper, instigated the deal, so, given the way things turned out yesterday, do not be fooled into thinking that this was a Surrey con job.

The defending champions won by 106 runs with over a session to spare as the visitors collapsed to 114 all out in the face of a polished bowling performance from all five members of the Surrey attack. Most notable were spinners Saqlain Mushtaq and Ian Salisbury, who shared seven of the last eight wickets to fall.

Proceedings began with the home side facing twenty balls before generously setting Kent a target of 301 to win. But there were already clear signs that the ball was turning sharply. It is also possible that Surrey had in mind the fact that no county has made over 300 in the fourth innings to beat them at The Oval since Somerset won by five wickets eight years ago.

Fulton lost his off stump to Ormond in the 12th over of the chase. Ed Smith followed in the former Leicestershire man’s next, for his third duck in four innings, when an aimed cut flew at chest height to second slip. Carberry and Symonds then got the visitors back on course with a third wicket partnership of 40.

Andy Symonds announced himself by cutting Jimmy Ormond over the slips to third man. Continuing to get the majority of his runs through the point region, he looked the only man likely to win the game for the visitors.

At the other end Michael Carberry, dropped on six at second slip by Butcher, was stuck on 10 for 42 minutes. His 78-ball occupation was ended when Saqlain got a delivery to rear off a length.

The crucial wicket of Symonds came in the second over after lunch when the Australian cut Alex Tudor hard to Salisbury at backward point. Having just been dropped at slip, Matthew Walker was snapped up by Stewart off the bowling of Mushtaq, who then had Mark Ealham angling the ball straight into the hands of Mark Butcher at leg slip.

The Pakistani off-spinner continued to have a hand in proceedings when Geraint Jones lofted Ian Salisbury’s first ball to long-on, to where Saqlain had to make up a lot of ground to take the catch. First to congratulate him was Adam Hollioake, who, happily, was on the field as twelfth man, suggesting that his father, who was taken ill during the week, is now on the road to recovery. We wish him well.

Rob Ferley, playing back, was bowled between bat and pad and Mohammad Sami was leg before to Salisbury for a first-ball duck before James Tredwell and Ben Trott hung on for six overs for a last wicket stand of 19. A second lbw decision in the space of less than twenty minutes – only the third of the match – wrapped things up. Saqlain Mushtaq finished with figures of four for 27, while Ian Salisbury claimed three for 11.

With Lancashire only managing a draw against Essex, some daylight between Surrey and the chasing pack at the top of the Division One table is now visible.

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