Surrey tightened their grip on this summer’s County Championship trophy and, in all probability, condemned Nottinghamshire to another spell in Division Two yesterday, by beating the Trent Bridge outfit by an innings and 211 runs. It was the first time Surrey have killed off the same opponents by an innings home and away since 1988.

After taking less than half an hour to polish off the visitors’ two remaining first innings wickets, it was Azhar Mahmood’s turn to come to the fore. The Pakistan all-rounder’s fiery nine-over opening spell accounted for four of the top five Notts batsmen as the visitors slumped to 45 for six in their second dig. Had it not been for a spirited 93 by Chris Read and the last four wickets putting on 197, the contest could well have been decided before lunch.

Resuming on 224 for eight, and with Nottinghamshire searching for what could be a crucial fifth bonus point, Stuart MacGill slog-swept Saqlain Mushtaq’s second ball of the day for six. In the off-spinner’s next over, however, Greg Smith went for a hit over mid on; where Rikki Clarke did well to take the ball as it came out of the sun. MacGill then charged down the pitch to Ian Salisbury in an attempt to retain the strike and was easily stumped to give Surrey a 453-run lead on first innings.

After spending the break being put through their paces on the outfield by fast-bowling guru Geoff Arnold, Martin Bicknell and Azhar Mahmood then went to work for the home side who, not surprisingly, decided to enforce the follow-on. On this occasion it was Azhar who prospered. Nottinghamshire had just 19 on the board by the time their fourth wicket – that of Russell Warren – had gone down with the new ball just six overs old.

Guy Welton went to his first delivery, caught at second slip, to complete an inglorious pair. Usman Afzaal departed in the next over, lbw to Martin Bicknell, whose older brother Darren was the next to fall, caught at short leg by substitute fielder Sam Woodward – a pupil at Whitgift School who plays his club cricket with Banstead.

After Warren’s top-edged cut flew to Jonathan Batty, Chris Cairns was well taken at fourth slip and Kevin Pietersen, trying to force Notts out of trouble, was caught at short extra cover. Sensing that the game could soon be over, no more admission was charged to anyone wishing to see the last rites being administered.

However, Chris Read had other ideas. His breezy 93 from 111 balls showed that the pitch had not deteriorated as much as Nottinghamshire’s upper order would have the spectators believe. Dropped on 21, when he nudged Clarke to short leg, the 25-year-old wicketkeeper went on to hit a further thirteen boundaries, including three in one over from Adam Hollioake.

Read enjoyed sixth and seventh wicket stands of 84 in 18 overs and 104 in 21 overs with Paul Franks and Greg Smith, who took a liking to both spinners during his 42 off 78 balls.

Chris Read was the eighth to go, brilliantly caught by Azhar coming around from slip to leg slip, and the result was confirmed by two catches by Alistair Brown at deep mid-off.

Surrey, who won with more than four sessions left, claimed a maximum 22 points. With Sussex and Lancashire seemingly cancelling each other out at Hove, the defending champions look extremely secure at the top of the Division One table going into next week’s encounter at Leicester.

Nottinghamshire, meanwhile, need to score three wins in their five remaining games to give themselves a chance of staying in the first division. Their next game, against Kent at Trent Bridge starting next Wednesday could not be more significant.

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