WARWICKSHIRE V SURREY - Specsavers County Championship - 13 August 2016
Surrey 252. Warwickshire.

Warwickshire spinner Jeetan Patel was again a thorn in Surrey's side as they were bowled out for 252 on the opening day of their Specsavers County Championship match at Edgbaston.

Patel, who took ten wickets during Warwickshire's emphatic victory at Guildford in early July, added another four on his home ground to take his championship tally this season to 45.

Having chosen to bat, Surrey saw several players get in but none play a major innings. Rory Burns (50, 153 balls), Kumar Sangakkara (47, 96), Steven Davies (38, 60) and Dominic Sibley (33, 89) put down roots but were then prised out by an attack which, led by Patel (four for 58) and Rikki Clarke (three for 46), maintained pressure all day.

After the formality of the toss (Surrey have won 32 of the last 35, Warwickshire just one in the championship all season) openers Burns and Sibley added 62 in 27.3 overs before the latter bat-padded Patel to short leg. Burns ground on to a half-century before Patel switched to the Pavilion End and won an lbw decision.

Sangakkara and Zafar Ansari took their side to a promising 146 for two just before tea but then perished to indiscrete shots to successive balls. Ansari edged an attempted drive at Olly Hannon-Dalby to third slip and Sangakkara tried to force Patel and sliced to slip.

Jason Roy was reprieved by a dropped catch at long leg on five and a missed stumping on 11, but failed to exploit his good fortune, edging Clarke to the wicketkeeper. His was the first of three wickets in a fiery evening spell by the former Surrey player. After Davies leading-edged Patel to extra cover, Clarke struck quickfire blows by forcing the Curran brothers to send catches behind the stumps.

Stuart Meaker top-edged a pull at Chris Wright and was well-caught by Varun Chopra running back from slip. Captain Gareth Batty counter-attacked effectively for 27 (23 balls) to lift his side to a second batting point before bring pinned lbw by Keith Barker.

Warwickshire were then spared an awkward three overs batting before the close by bad light. Surrey are without Ben Foakes (quad strain), rested as a precaution ahead of next Thursday's Royal London Cup quarter-final at Northampton, while Warwickshire make two changes in the top order. Opener Ian Westwood has replaced the out-of-form Andy Umeed while Laurie Evans, recalled from a loan spell at Northamptonshire, has come in for Sam Hain (sore shoulder).

Warwickshire captain Ian Bell said: "It was a really good day's work by the bowlers. To be honest, I didn't think we got absolutely everything we deserved. In the morning the guys were outstanding and only got the one wicket but at the end of the day to bowl them out for 252 was a really good effort. It's a good cricket wicket with a bit of pace and good carry and a bit in it for everyone. The bowlers did really well to keep them down to around two an over, especially with such a small boundary on one side. Jeetan and Rikki were the standouts but the bowlers collectively were very good.

"We are going to have to bat well. There is no doubt we have the quality to do that but we are going to have to work hard. It should be a really good game of cricket.

"With regard to tosses, I've given up on them! Hopefully it will change at some point but it's certainly not helping us. I'll have to work on the technique over the winter and see if I can come back a bit better next season."

Surrey batsman Rory Burns said: "They were tough batting conditions. It seamed all day and it's quite tufty sort of grass so it helped the spinner and the ball swung for them as well so it was a pretty tough day.

"I don't think we ever really felt in in any part of that innings but we have got to try to make 252 look as good as it can be tomorrow. Hopefully conditions won't change too much and it might be a good score, you never know.

"Warwickshire's bowlers have pretty much given us the blueprint there. You've got to stay disciplined and hold your length and make batters come to you because there is so much assistance in the pitch at the minute. If that continues to happen it's the complete opposite of the pitch down at Hampshire where it was a flat wicket. Here the pitch is going to help you out so you don't have to go searching."

TEA REPORT

Surrey were hit by a double-blow just before tea as they sought to build an imposing first-innings total after choosing to bat against Warwickshire in their Specsavers County Championship tussle at Edgbaston.

The visitors went into tea on 151 for four from 64 overs after two sessions of obdurate batting against accurate bowling.

Having lost only Dominic Sibley (caught at short-leg off Jeetan Patel for 33 from 89 balls) before lunch, Surrey resumed on 63 for one and Rory Burns ground on to a workmanlike half-century. The opener fell for 50 (153 balls, six fours) when Patel switched to the Pavilion End and won an lbw decision but Kumar Sangakkara and Zafar Ansari took the score to a promising 146 for two just before tea.

They then fell to successive balls though, Ansari edging Olly Hannon-Dalby to Evans at third slip and Sangakkara edging Patel to Rikki Clarke at slip to fall for 47 (96 balls, five fours and a six).

LUNCH REPORT

Surrey made slow but solid progress to 63 for one at lunch after choosing to bat against Warwickshire in their Specsavers County Championship match at Edgbaston.

After the formality of the toss (Surrey have won 32 of the last 35, Warwickshire have won one in the championship all season) the visitors' openers Rory Burns and Dominic Sibley knuckled down hard to supply their side a foundation with a half-century opening stand.

There was plenty of playing and missing as all four seamers - Chris Wright, Keith Barker, Rikki Clarke and Olly Hannon-Dalby - bowled accurately, but the openers added 62 in 27.3 overs before Sibley (33, 89 balls, six fours) bat-padded spinner Jeetan Patel to Ian Westwood at short leg.

Burns went into lunch unbeaten on 26 (80 balls) with Kumar Sangakkara, back from Caribbean Premier League duty, still to score.

Surrey are without Ben Foakes (quad strain), rested as a precaution ahead of next Thursday's Royal London Cup quarter-final at Northampton, while Warwickshire selected opener Ian Westwood in place of the out-of-form Andy Umeed and Laurie Evans, recalled from a loan spell at Northamptonshire, for Sam Hain (sore shoulder).

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