RAIN DENIES SURREY AND SAQLAIN by Marcus Hook
Surrey 560-8d v Leicestershire 200 & 185-8. Match Drawn.

With all but five overs being lost to the elements on day three, once again the weather thwarted Surrey’s chances of recording a second innings victory in as many championship matches. Crucially, the rain arrived in the nick of time for Leicestershire, who faced certain defeat. Saqlain Mushtaq, who took five for 46 (culminating in a sequence of four for seven in 39 balls), was the destructive force. But Ian Salisbury – following up his unbeaten 101 – also bowled intelligently, which was encouraging after a couple of seasons in which the leg-spinner has been less of feature for the Oval outfit.

After Virender Sehwag’s masterly 81, a responsible alliance between Darren Maddy and Brad Hodge appeared to be guiding the visitors toward safe waters. But then, in the space of just fourteen overs, they sank from 168-3 to 185-8. Immediately after Phillip DeFreitas was out to the second ball after tea, however, the heavens opened and that was that.

These things have a habit of evening themselves out, though. In 2001, Leicestershire were denied at Grace Road when 55 overs were lost to a combination of bad light and drizzle. But yesterday, in the 42.2 overs possible after lunch was taken early to allow the ground to dry out, the modest band of diehards who ignored the forecast and the distraction of the FA Cup final were treated to runs and wickets, if not a result.

Sehwag was in majestic form. He hit two fours in the first over from Azhar Mahmood, before Maddy drove the Pakistani through wide mid-off. Then, with his ninth four – a cut down to third man also off the bowling of Azhar – the little Indian brought up his first championship half-century in just 52 balls.

Virender Sehwag then cover drove Martin Bicknell for two boundaries in as many overs before flicking him through the legside for consecutive fours in the 34-year-old’s final effort. Bicknell was succeeded at the Vauxhall End by Saqlain Mushtaq, who was also twice despatched to the onside boundary by Sehwag.

But in Saqlain’s second over – the 27th – the Indian came down the pitch to a quicker delivery and was adjudged leg before. Virender Sehwag finished with 81 off 84 balls, including fifteen regally struck fours.

Maddy and Hodge consolidated and looked in no obvious trouble until, in the 41st over, Darren Maddy had a rush of blood and was bowled by Saqlain. Two wickets then fell in the two overs to transfer the initiative back to Surrey.

Darren Stevens, having just received words of advice from Brad Hodge, played back to Ian Salisbury’s googly and was lbw. Next came the important wicket of Paul Nixon, who was taken by Adam Hollioake, fielding at silly point, off the bowling of Saqlain Mushtaq. The ball went quickly to the Surrey skipper, who had the presence of mind to flip it up in the air and claim the catch on the ball’s downward journey.

Four overs later Hodge decided against an attacking stroke and, instead, patted the ball straight into the waiting hands of Ian Ward at forward short leg. Saqlain had taken three for six in 23 balls.

The second delivery after tea produced the wicket of DeFreitas, prodding forward and giving a routine catch to silly point – if any catch to silly point could ever be described as routine. But before the next Leicestershire batsman, Charlie Dagnall, could make it out to the middle the weather intervened leaving Surrey to reflect on the luck of the draw. Yet again, the start of their championship campaign has been scheduled to take place predominantly at the AMP Oval, where, these days, it often takes a minimum of three days to achieve a positive result.

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