C&G: Surrey crash to Derby

The highlight of the fourth round of the C&G Trophy was Surrey's humbling 137-run annihilation at the hands of Derbyshire. Worcestershire, Lancashire and Gloucestershire also progressed.

Adam Hollioake's decision to insert the hosts at the County Ground looked to be paying off when Pakistani seamer Azhar Mahmood removed Andrew Gait without scoring. However, the Champions - who went into this game with a 21-game winning streak, dating back to their previous meeting with Derbyshire last August - failed to make much more progress in the early overs, as the inexperienced Philip Sampson failed to support Azhar, and the excellent Saqlain Mushtaq, who conceded just 24 runs - all singles - in his 10 overs.

It took the introduction of former England International James Ormond to break through again, Chris Bassano (33) having his stumps re-arranged, and soon afterwards Australian Michael di Venuto was also back in the pavilion for 51, Azhar taking the catch. At 99/3, the game was back in the balance. Not for long. Step forward Mohammad Kaif, the Indian One-Day International batsman, who, alongside Dominic Hewson (34), put the home side right back in the driving seat, putting on 88 before Hewson was caught behind, Ormond's third wicket of the match.

Kaif was finally caught by Mark Ramprakash off Hollioake for 81, but his deeds had inspired the Derbyshire lower order to put the Surrey bowlers to the sword. Whilst no-one made a large score, Nathan Dumelow, Tim Lungley and Graeme Welch all made double figures rapidly to help Derbyshire consolidate, ending as Kevin Dean was bowled by Azhar off the final ball of the innings - 271 all out. The visitors' effort was not helped by their 18 wides - 7 from captain Hollioake - or Rikki Clarke's continued desire to serve up bowling that even lower order batsman can hit at 7+ an over. Maybe losing him for England will benefit Surrey?

It certainly wouldn't have mattered yesterday, as by the time Dominic Cork (2/17) dispatched him LBW first ball (the same fate that befell Ali Brown - only he was bowled), Surrey were 26/4 and as good as gone. Kevin Dean (2/24) also had Iain Ward and Mark Ramprakash back, before Surrey's middle order staged a mini-revival, mostly off Tim Lungley. Now it was the turn of Graeme Welch to become unplayable. First Graham Thorpe (37), then Adam Hollioake, Azhar Mahmood and Saqlain Mushtaq were dispatched to leave Surrey teetering on the brink at 103/8. Jon Batty (28) saved a little pride by rising the score to 134, but when Lungley removed Ormond and finally Batty caught behind, it was all over with 16 overs left.

David had slain Goliath, Rikki Clarke had been predictably useless, and Surrey, the darlings of the London press, were out of the C&G Trophy again. They have not won it in 22 years.

At Leicester, David Leatherdale starred for Worcestershire with 62 as he and Anurag Singh (74) rescued Worcester from 62/4 after Darren Maddy took 3 wickets in an over. After a rain delay that forced the game into a second day, Michael Mason and Mark Harrity took three wickets each to skittle out Leicestershire, Darren Stevens top-scored with 34.

Lancashire completely outplayed Middlesex at Old Trafford, Mal Loye making 74 and Glenn Chapple a 25-ball 45 including 3 fours and 3 sixes in the hosts' imposing 252/7. Peter Martin (4/34) reduced Middlesex to 22/3 and 55/4 and despite an unbeaten 29 off 20 balls from number 11 Chad Keegan, Middlesex were bowled out for 195 in the last over.

In the fourth Quarter-final at Edgbaston, Nick Knight (88), Jamie Troughton (52) and Ashley Giles (28) made the only significant contributions as the hosts limped to 204 all out, Ian Harvey taking 5/23 off 9 overs. Phil Weston's 88* anchored the Gloucester reply, and Alex Gidman finished the job with 22 off 11 balls including five boundaries, Giles and Waqar Younis taking two wickets each.

The semi-finals, which will be played between August 7-10, weather permitting, are:
Worcester: Worcestershire v Lancashire
Bristol: Gloucestershire v Derbyshire

Posted by Neil