Match report day 1: Surrey v Lancs in Championship 2004

Match report day 1: Surrey v Lancs in Championship 2004 by Neil Adams

Scorecard:	Surrey v Lancashire
Other links:	Day 2, Day 3

Summary of day 1

The lush green slippery slope leading from Lancashire's "Marquee" dressing room to the edge of the pitch, served as a pertinent reminder to the players which direction the team is heading down. Even when presented with an ideal opportunity to bowl first, when Hooper won the toss, Lancashire selected to bat first - a totally and utterly bizarre decision considering the previous days and overnight conditions. The magnitude of the error was prevalent after just 30 minutes play, when the scoreboard read 21 for 4. Chilton (2), Sutcliffe (0), Mongia (12), and Haynes, yes Jamie Haynes (2) all found themselves dismissed. The decision to play the latter player at number 3 in the batting line up eclipsing the choice to bat first in terms of disbelief and mirth value. The visitors stumbled to 128 for 5 at lunch, with Schofield once again the most accomplished player at the crease.

Surrey's four pronged pace attack rolled over Lancashire's last 5 wickets for 82 runs during the afternoon session. With the pitch drying out by the minute, the hosts could not wait to take to the crease. Suddenly the game was transformed. Surrey batted with patience while Lancashire introduced their toothless pace attack. Cork and Chapple bowled far too short, and Mahmood and Hogg far too wide. Newman eased his way to 61 before being stumped by Haynes (122-2), and Ramprakash moved almost unnoticed to 55 as Surrey trailed by just 62 runs by the close. One senses Saturday will be a day off providing plenty of time to review directions to Durham and Derby for 2005.

Key Notes of the Day

Lancashire won the toss and elected to bat
Chilton caught Clarke bowled Bicknell 2 (1st slip) - 6 for 1 in the 3rd over - Sutcliffe 0*
Sutcliffe bowled Ormond 0 (Off stump) - 6 for 2 in the 4th over - Haynes 0*
Haynes caught Batty bowled Ormond 2 - 17 for 3 in the 8th over - Mongia 8*
Mongia caught & bowled Bicknell 12 - 21 for 4 in the 9th over - Hooper 0*
Schofield 7 dropped by Newman (Skied to mid-wicket) - 37 for 4 in the 15th over - Hooper 8*
Schofield 8 dropped by Azhar Mahmood (2nd slip) - 43 for 4 in the 19th over - Hooper 13*
51 for 4 in the 20th over - Hooper 21* Schofield 8*
50 partnership - 71 for 4 in the 24th over - Hooper 32* Schofield 13*
Hooper bowled Azhar Mahmood 32 (Played-on) - 71 for 5 in the 24th over - Schofield 13*
103 for 5 in the 30th over - Schofield 24* Chapple 17*
50 partnership - 123 for 5 in the 32nd over - Schofield 28* Chapple 33*
Lunch - 128 for 5 in the 34th over - Schofield 30* Chapple 36*
Chapple caught Azhar Mahmood bowled Bicknell 36 (2nd slip) - 142 for 6 in the 39th over - Schofield 43*
50 Schofield from 88 balls (8 x 4) + 150 for 6 in the 41st over - Cork 0*
Cork caught Newman bowled Murtagh 2 (Cover point) - 164 for 7 in the 43rd over - Schofield 61*
Schofield caught Clarke bowled Azhar Mahmood 69 (1st slip) - 172 for 8 in the 46th over - Hogg 0*
203 for 8 in the 55th over - Hogg 19* Mahmood 12*
Hogg caught Bicknell bowled Mahmood 22 (3rd slip) - 209 for 9 in the 56th over - Mahmood 12*
Mahmood caught Clarke bowled Azhar Mahmood 15 (1st slip) - 210 all out in the 58th over - Keedy 0*

Clinton caught Chilton bowled Cork 1 (Looped to 3rd slip) - 20 for 1 in the 4th over - Newman 18*
Newman 18 dropped by Chilton at 3rd slip - 22 for 1 in the 7th over - Ramprakash 0*
Tea - 51 for 1 from 12 overs - Newman 28* Ramprakash 13*
50 partnership - 70 for 1 in the 18th over - Newman 40* Ramprakash 20*
50 Newman from 94 balls (8 x 4) - 94 for 1 in the 28th over - Ramprakash 32*
100 for 1 in the 29th over - Newman 51* Ramprakash 35*
100 partnership - 120 for 1 in the 34th over - Newman 60* Ramprakash 45*
Newman stumped Haynes bowled Keedy 61 - 122 for 2 in the 35th over - Ramprakash 46*
50 Ramprakash from 97 balls (7 x 4) - 126 for 2 in the 37th over - Clarke 1*
Close of play - 148 for 2 from 44 overs - Ramprakash 55* Clarke 13* - Trail by 62 runs
Surrey 3 points, Lancashire 0 points