MADDY TAKES CHARGE by Marcus Hook
Surrey v Warwickshire 221-4.

A superb captain's innings of 133 not out off 166 balls from Darren Maddy ensured that Warwickshire were the happier of the two sides when bad light and then rain put paid to 43 overs on the opening day at the Brit Oval. However, Surrey, yet to win a toss in the championship at home this season, will have been pleased with how they made everyone other than Maddy work for their runs.

Neil Saker picked up three of the four wickets to fall, but was, at times, expensive. Consequently, the pick of the Brown Caps' attack was arguably Nayan Doshi, who, having missed out at Old Trafford, gave nothing away and occasionally got the ball to lift sharply off a length. Interestingly, the visitors do not possess a front-line spinner.

To accommodate Ian Bell, Tim Groenewald dropped out of the Bears' line-up. For the hosts, with Azhar Mahmood and Ian Salisbury nursing injuries, James Benning and Chris Schofield were given the nod ahead of Mohammad Akram and Jimmy Ormond.

Matt Nicholson, making his Surrey debut, started with a Steve Harmison like wide, which Jonathan Batty took in front of first and second slip, but proved to be economical if lacking somewhat in penetration. His employers will no doubt be hoping, indeed praying, that their second overseas signing is still a little bit on the rusty side.

Maddy announced himself in the second over by cutting Saker for four. Indeed, the former Leicestershire man was largely responsible for the 22-year-old's initial four-over spell being plundered for 32 runs. That led to Rikki Clarke's introduction in the tenth over.

It was not until Saker returned, this time at the Vauxhall End, however, that Surrey had their first success; Ian Westwood, attempting to work Saker through the leg-side, giving Mark Butcher a simple catch at mid-off off a leading edge.

Ian Bell then spent nine balls on nought and ten balls on one before edging the first of his two boundaries past third slip. Bell's unconvincing visit to the crease was soon ended by Saker, who accounted for the England batsman with an inswinging yorker.

Jonathan Trott should have departed first ball, which he did not seem to pick up in the murky conditions, but was relieved to see umpire Barrie Leadbeater signalling no-ball.

The next over saw Maddy reach fifty in 67 deliveries with his eleventh boundary, which was cover driven off Benning. The Bears' skipper celebrated his half-century by cutting a loose ball from Nicholson, whom he then despatched through extra cover. After twice sweeping Doshi square of the wicket in as many overs, Maddy went to lunch with an unbeaten 72 from 92 balls and his side on 124-2.

After the break the former Leicestershire man got after Clarke, whom he hooked for six and then four before taking three boundaries off the 25-year-old's ninth over. The very next over saw Maddy reach his first championship hundred since 2004 in 114 deliveries. It contained 19 fours and a six.

The home side then got themselves a foothold in the game with Doshi picking up the wicket of Trott, who was caught at backward point in the 46th over, and Jim Troughton, who looked in good touch until he went to drive a wide ball from Saker and was caught behind.

As if to underline what a thorn he had been in Surrey's side, the 61st and what proved to be final over of the day saw Maddy on drive two fours off Saker before drilling the youngster through extra cover.

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