Thorpe ton inspires Surrey

Somerset v Surrey, Taunton

There are few things better in cricket than to watch an accomplished batsman conducting a master-class. Spectators at the County Ground, Taunton were treated to nothing less today as Graham Thorpe constructed a chanceless century for Surrey against Somerset in the C&G Trophy fourth round tie.

Nixon McLean bowled tremendously for the home side in his early spell, picking up the wicket of the ever-dangerous Ally Brown, bowled all ends up in an eight over burst which went at less than two runs per over. Conditions were most definitely conducive to swing bowling early on with humid air and heavy overhead cloud, but it was still a surprise that Somerset skipper Michael Burns chose not to call for the twirlies of Keith Dutch and Ian Blackwell, despite the presence of both spinners in the side.

The dismissal of Brown brought the enigma that is Mark Ramprakash to the wicket, but he and Mark Butcher were finding scoring difficult against accurate seam bowling. The first bowling change sparked the fall of the second wicket. Butcher, increasingly frustrated, aimed an extravagant drive at a wide delivery from Plilip Jones and only succeeded in feathering a catch to wicket-keeper Rob Turner to reduce the visitors to 34-2.

This brought Graham Thorpe to the wicket and for the next two hours and forty minutes, we were treated to a lesson in how to construct a one-day innings. The Somerset plan seemed to be constructed entirely around preventing Thorpe from driving, consequently not one of his first forty runs were scored in front of the wicket.

Ramprakash, meanwhile was struggling for timing, and it was little surprise when, in attempting to turn a ball from Burns to leg, he only succeeded in spooning a catch off the leading edge to Dutch at short cover. The sadly out of touch Rikki Clarke came and went, undone by a late outswinger from Parsons and at 106-4, there was plenty to concern the visitors.

Adam Hollioake and Thorpe started the recovery with a well-constructed partnership of 63 in just under 12 overs, milking the singles and picking up the odd boundary. Just as Hollioake was threatening to cut loose, he played across the line to a length ball from Richard Johnson and was adjudged leg before. Three deliveries later, the highly rated Azhar Mahmood went in identical fashion for a duck to leave Surrey rocking on a precarious 169-6.

Thorpe's innings started to blossom as he cruised past fifty, but it was Jonathan Batty who provided the early impetus to the partnership with a series of flamboyant strokes backward of square. The Chesterfield-born Batty was a revelation, belying his previous one-day form which had seen him struggle with the bat in the shorter version of the game.

With just five overs to go and still 30 shy of three figures, a century seemed out of the question for Thorpe, but with Johnson and especially Jones erring in length, the ball penetrated the field with increasing regularity. Batty progressed to a maiden one-day half-century, and in the final over Thorpe jumped all over a leg stump half-volley to send the ball crashing into the boards at midwicket for a scintillating century.

Batty and Thorpe's breathtaking partnership had added 112 in just 14 overs in elevating the Surrey total to a testing 281-6. McLean was the only bowler to escape the late carnage as he finished with the highly creditable analysis of 1-29 from his 10 overs.

Somerset would have felt reasonably confident of chasing 282 to win. Taunton is one of those wickets which improves with age, and the outfield is traditionally lightning-fast. Still, it would require a resolute approach and, preferably, a solid start.

The first hour of the Somerset innings was a torrid affair. As well as Nixon McLean had bowled at the start of the Surrey innings, Martin Bicknell if anything exceeded even those high standards. Cox was the first to go, trapped in front by Ormond, who by and large bowled too short and too wide, but Bicknell was economy personified.

James Bryant joined Trescothick, and despite the pair trading boundaries off the wayward Ormond, neither looked particularly secure. It was little surprise when Bryant perished for just 9, clean bowled by the admirable Bicknell who conceded just 23 runs from his 10 overs.

Trescothick too looked badly out of touch, and he was the third to depart, caught by Hollioake off the bowling of Azhar Mahmood for just 17 to reduce the home side to 51-3. It was imperative that a partnership be constructed, and when Keith Parsons joined Michael Burns, the ones and twos began to flow.

Both batsmen were particularly severe on anything short, and it wasn't long before the boundaries on either side of the wicket were being peppered. Hollioake rang the changes, and the introduction of Rikki Clarke brought instant reward as Burns fell just three runs short of a half-century with Somerset now on 148-4.

New batsman Ian Blackwell immediately launched an assault on Saqlain Mushtaq, slog-sweeping the first two balls of the leg-spinner's seventh over into the car park. With both Somerset men now blazing away, the 200 was raised in the 37th over. The return of the accurate Azhar Mahmood brought some temporary respite for the shell-shocked Surrey attack, and the 41st over started with Somerset still 65 short of the victory target.

Saqlain induced an errant drive from Blackwell (39) and the hard-hitting left-hander was safely pouched by Mark Butcher at long off with the total on 222. A poor over by Clarke went for eight, then Saqlain Mushtaq struck another vital blow for the visitors, removing the previously faultless Parsons, caught by Thorpe at short cover for an excellent 83.

A couple of lusty blows by Keith Dutch kept Somerset well in touch, but when Hollioake brought himself on at the death, the game took yet another dramatic and decisive turn. First of all he removed Dutch, lbw for 14, then in his following over clean bowled Richard Johnson who scratched around for 3.

With 3 overs remaining, the target was 22 with just two wickets to fall. A quite excellent maiden from Mahmood, conceding just two leg byes meant that the game was Surrey's to lose. With Hollioake bowling superbly, that was never going to happen, and a slower ball foxed McLean completely, bringing the last man, Steffan Jones, to the wicket. A solitary boundary and a handful of singles brought Somerset close, but it was an impossible task.

Surrey 281-6 (Thorpe 102*, Batty 55*, Johnson 2-58)
beat
Somerset 275 (Parsons 83, Hollioake 3-19, Saqlain 2-58)
by 6 runs. MoM Graham Thorpe (Surrey)


C&G 4th Round roundup

Middlesex v Sussex, Lord's

An inspired performance by James Kirtley was not enough for Sussex to be able to account for Middlesex at Lord's today. Kirtley tore the heart out of the home side with a brilliant spell of 5-41, but only after Weekes and Strauss had given the home side a great start with an opening partnership of 139.

Sussex were never able to establish key partnerships, with too many players getting in then losing their wickets at critical moments. Six Sussex players mande it into the thirties, but the fact that no-one made it to 40 tells the tale of their innings.

Middlesex 258-8 (Strauss 75, Weekes 73, Kirtley 5-41)
beat
Sussex 241-8 (Adams 39, Cook 3-37)
by 17 runs. MoM Andrew Strauss (Middlesex)


Leicestershire v Nottinghamshire, Leicester

The home side had little trouble in overcoming near neighbours Nottinghamshire in the East Midlands derby at Grace Road today. Virender Sehwag played a typically classy innings at the top of the order for Leicestershire, taking just 51 balls for his 56.

The principal problem for Notts, though, was self-inflicted. A staggering 49 extras was the result of some very wayward bowling.

When the visitors batted, only Chris Cairns offered any more than token resistance as Leicestershire captain and inspiration continued to roll back the years with a splendid demonstration of seam-up which earned him the excellent figures of 3-20 and a thoroughly-deserved Man of the Match award.

Leicestershire 258-9 (Sehwag 56, Clough 3-47)
beat
Nottinghamshire 159 (Cairns 67, DeFreitas 3-20, Dagnall 3-39, Grove 3-43)
by 99 runs. MoM Phil DeFreitas (Leicestershire)


Durham v Lancashire, Chester-le-Street

A dismal batting display by the home side saw them slump to an ignominious defeat to Lancashire today. It was a day for grafting as just 23 boundaries were scored in the day - just seven by the home team.

Lancashire lost Mal Loye early, but a series of solid partnerships, helped by half-centuries by Stuart Law and Carl Hooper allowed them to chisel out a respectable 229.

Durham were never in the hunt. At 26-6 and with Anderson and Martin darting the ball every which way, a score under 50 looked likely. Diligent application by opener Nicky Peng enabled them to pass that milestone, but with only Neil Killeen of the remainder amassing double figures, the result was inevitable.

Lancashire 229-9 (Hooper 61, Law 59, Pretorius 3-32)
beat
Durham 86 (Peng 44, Anderson 3-14, Martin 3-22)
by 143 runs. MoM Stuart Law (Lancashire)


Glamorgan v Derbyshire, Cardiff

A quite brilliant 121 by Chris Bassano was instrumental in Derbyshire cruising to victory over hitherto unbeated Glamorgan today.

Glamorgan got of to their customary brisk start today with Robert Croft and Ian Thomas hitting a quickfire 47 for the first wicket, but all too often crucial wickets were thrown away. Every home batsman made a start, but crucially only Jonathan Hughes went on to a half century. Decisive spells by Graeme Welch and Shahid Afridi were crucial for the visitors, and in the end Glamorgan limped to 248.

When Derbyshire batted, it was a different story. Michael Kasprowicz was the only home bowler who threatened, picking up all three wickets to fall. Shahid Afridi swished away brightly, helping himself to 23 from a dozen deliveries, then an uncustomary failure by Michael Di Venuto gave some semblance of hope to the home side, but it only brought Bassano to the wicket.

Andy Gait played the perfect foil, rotating the strike whilst Bassano plundered. The pair added 191 in a spellbinding exhibition of superb stroke play, which was only interrupted when Kasprowicz returned for one final, desperate roll of the dice.

Bassano's 121 came off 100 balls, including 10 fours and four maximums. Gait himself was no slouch, taking just 115 balls for his undefeated 87 as Derbyshire cruised home with nine overs to spare.

Derbyshire 251-3 (Bassano 121, Gait 87*, Kasprowicz 3-43)
beat
Glamorgan 248-9 (Hughes 51, Welch 3-47)
by 7 wickets. MoM Chris Bassano (Derbyshire)


Kent v Gloucestershire, Canterbury

The medium pace of Andrew Smith and James Averis was instrumental in taking Gloucestershire through to the quarter-finals of the C&G Trophy game at Canterbury today.
Kent stuttered throughout their innings, with only Greg Blewett managing to post a half-century. Geraint Jones valiantly tried to hold the tail together, but Kent were unable to bat out their full quota of overs.

Once more, Martin Saggers was the pick of the Kent bowlers, removing Weston, Windows and Russell at a personal cost of 45, but it was the hitting of Craig Spearman and the busy nudging of the effervescent Jonty Rhodes which saw the visitors through to a comfortable victory.

Gloucestershire 195-5 (Spearman 71, Saggers 3-45)
beat
Kent 194 (Blewett 50, Smith 4-35, Averis 3-39)
by 5 wickets. MoM Andrew Smith (Gloucestershire)


Warwickshire v Essex, Edgbaston

For Nasser Hussain and Essex, this match could be well summed up as 'The one that got away'. Essex got off to the worst possible start, losing Hussain run out off the first ball of the game, then off the final ball of the first over having William Jefferson caught by Nick Knight off the bowling of new signing Waqar Younis.

Things did improve when Andy Flower was joined at the wicket by teenager Mark Pettini and the pair added a rapid 107 for the fifth wicket. After Flower departed for a solid 82, Pettini cut loose with Paul Grayson who struck an unbeaten 41 off just 36 balls. Pettini finished just eight runs short of what would have been his maiden century in the senior game.

Dougie Brown was the pick of the home bowlers, ending with a creditable 2-37.

Scott Brant and Jonathan Dakin must have thought that they had done enough when, in conjunction with Essex captain Ronnie Irani, they had reduced Warwickshire to a desperate 83-6. In a remarkable turnaround, though, Dougie Brown and Ashley Giles first dug in their heels, then inched and finally sprinted for the finish line.

Brown was positively brutal, smashing nine boundaries and four sixes on his way to a first-ever century in one-day cricket. With the partnership between the pair worth a staggering 170, Brown was finally dismissed, leaving Giles to steer his side home in the final over and send the Brummie fans into raptures. Irani may well rue the fact that Dakin was not called upon to deliver his full allocation of overs.

Warwickshire 257-7 (Brown 108, Giles 71*, Dakin 3-30)
beat
Essex 256-5 (Pettini 92*, Flower 82, Brown 2-37)
by 3 wickets. MoM Dougie Brown (Warwickshire)


Worcestershire v Yorkshire, Worcester

The good news for England is that Darren Gough came through another stern test unscathed. The bad news is that Matthew Hoggard managed just three deliveries before pulling up lame.

The Yorkshire bowling attack is thin enough these days, and they can scarcely afford to be without someone of the undoubted quality of Hoggard.

The bowling was eventually the difference between the sides.Worcestershire coughed and spluttered for a while, but it was only really the fluency of Vikram Solanki and David Leatherdale to post a total as high as 244. Darren Gough stuck manfully to his guns, but Yorkshire, through no fault of their own were always one bowler short.

Yorkshire can be forgiven for thinking that the home side had one bowler too many - and in effect, they did. Nantie Hayward removed Martin Lumb with his second ball and shortly accounted for Chris Silverwood. Michael Vaughan and Michael Wood took the total on to 100, but when the pair were separated, the Yorkshire innings went into slow decline.

Vaughan top-scored with just 47, then Hayward returned and ripped out the heart of the side.

Worcestershire 244-8 (Leatherdale 80, Solanki 60, Gough 2-43)
beat
Yorkshire 177 (Vaughan 47, Hayward 5-49, Batty 2-25)
by 67 runs. MoM David Leatherdale (Worcestershire)


Cricket Web player of the day Chris Bassano (Derbyshire) for his match-winning 121 from 100 balls against the previously undefeated Glamorgan.


Posted by Eddie