Surrey’s Woodbridge Road Woes Continue As They Lose To Essex

Published on: 18 Jun, 2017
Updated on: 18 Jun, 2017

Mark Stoneman on his way to personal best 197 in Surrey’s first innings. Photo – Getty images

By George Geaves

Surrey lost their first game in the County Championship this year after an enthralling four-day contest against rivals Essex at Woodbridge Road.

Surrey are now down to fifth in the Championship, eighteen points off Essex who have returned to the top.

The first day at Guildford started promisingly, despite rain interrupting the entire first session. Mark Stoneman was Surrey’s stand out batsman, scoring a magnificent personal best of 197.

The opener dominated Essex’s strong bowling attack and succeeded where most of Surrey’s batsmen failed. Rory Burns, Scott Borthwick and Kumar Sangakkara all gave away their wicket cheaply but Dom Sibley provided superb support for Stoneman.

The young batsman scored 69 before he was caught behind bowled by Essex Captain Ryan Ten Doeschate. Ben Foakes was then trapped by Ten Doeschate for four which brought Sam Curran to the crease.

Curran batted well with Stoneman and added some vital lower order runs, eventually ending up on 65. But Surrey’s lower order collapsed and the home side were all out for 399, frustratingly just a single run short of maximum batting points.

The Pick of Essex’s bowlers was Jamie Porter who ended up with figures of 4-102, picking up the prized wicket of Kumar Sangakkara for just four.

Essex began their reply steadily with openers Nick Browne and Alastair Cook however they got out just as they had got themselves in. This was the same with Westley and Lawrence who both got scores in the early twenties before being dismissed by the Surrey bowlers.

Surrey were on top at this point as Gareth Batty looked like he was causing the batsmen lots of problems before Bopara and Ryan Ten Doeschate put Essex in a good position with some magnificent batting.

Ryan Ten Doeschate leaving the field after scoring 168. Photo – Getty images

Bopara scored 64 before he was trapped lbw by paceman Stuart Meaker. Ten Doeschate continued batted brilliantly and he ended up on 168 not out. Overseas star Neil Wagner provided excellent support for Ten Doeschate with 34 valuable runs and eventually Essex were all out for 435.

So after an innings apiece Surrey were behind by 36 and the game could go either way.

First innings centurion Mark Stoneman was the first Surrey batsman to be dismissed, for just ten. Rory Burns and Scott Borthwick slowly rebuilt Surrey’s innings and took their score past 36 so “The Rey” could begin to build a lead.

The partnership was broken when Borthwick hit the ball straight to Lawrence at short leg which brought Kumar Sangakkara to the crease. Burns and Sangakkara continued batting well and Burns passed 50 but was out shortly after, caught down the leg side again from paceman Jamie Porter.

This was where Surrey’s collapse began as Sangakkara, Sibley and Sam Curran were all dismissed for low scores. Essex captain Ryan Ten Doeschate was setting the tone with some very inventive fields that rattled the Surrey Batsmen.

Then Gareth Batty came and went after gloving one to leg slip and Ben Foakes was left to bat with the tail. Foakes ended up 65 not out but Surrey’s last three wickets fell quickly with Ravi Rampaul and Mark Footit both being dismissed without scoring.

Essex required 252 to win with most of the final day to bat and they put together a faultless run chase. Alastair Cook was caught at slip for 31 which gave Surrey hope but 77 from Nick Browne and a wonderful 108 not out from Tom Westley gave Essex a brilliant win over Surrey.

Woodbridge road has not been a happy hunting ground for Surrey in recent years as the past two years have both resulted in defeats for Surrey.

Essex now go top of the Championship but Surrey slip down to fifth and in need of a win in their next Championship fixture away at Yorkshire.