Fit Document – SURR vs SOM ninth Fit, April 12 – 15, 2024

Surrey 428 (Sibley 100, Burns 75, Foakes 57, Smith 51, Aldridge 5-64) and 123 for five (Lawrence 53*) drew with Somerset 285 (Lammonby 100, Renshaw 87, Gregory 50, Metal 4-50) and 351 (Gregory 80, Goldsworthy 58, Overton 52*, Lammonby 51, Metal 5-96)

There are just about 5,000 miles between The Oval and the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium and whilst one venue was once packed out on Monday night, the opposite was once virtually empty. However for 8 overs, Surrey stored tempo with the record-breaking scoring charges posted via Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, giving Somerset an actual scare earlier than this fit petered out right into a draw.

Smith, who performed the shot of the day when he swung Craig Overton into the 3rd tier of the Micky Stewart Pavilion, holed out to Matt Renshaw at long-on off Gregory’s first ball however Ollie Pope gave the impression a great spouse for Lawrence, cutting Kasey Aldridge over the quick level boundary for 6 at the same time as one hand got here off the bat.

However after Pope misplaced his leg stump taking a look to slash Aldridge away in the course of the off aspect all over again, Surrey misplaced their bearings: Jamie Overton miscued a go back catch to Aldridge, Rory Burns picked out deep sq. leg and Dom Sibley top-edged an tried pull again to Gregory. Lawrence reached a 30-ball 50 however could not stay the strike, and the avid gamers shook fingers with 5 overs unbowled.

The wild conclusion was once out of kilter with a quiet ultimate day, during which Gregory had virtually single-handedly stored the sport together with his 2nd half-century of the fit, his 2nd as everlasting captain. Somerset’s in a single day lead was once simply 61 with 4 wickets in hand, however stands of 94 and 89 with Aldridge and Overton respectively took day trip of the sport.

It gave the impression transparent that the second one new ball will be the lacking element for Surrey after the primary one had misplaced its spice. Kemar Roach broke thru in a while after lunch, within the 5th over after the changeover, with a good looks that took Aldridge’s outdoor edge on its method thru to Ben Foakes.

Surrey used their spinners from one finish and their seamers on the different, looking to create possibilities and breathe some lifestyles into the sport on a bitterly chilly afternoon. They appealed desperately for leg-before wicket and caught-behind possibilities, continuously growing half-chances and not using a leap forward.

However Gregory batted on, surviving an opportunity on 69 when Roach dropped a skier at deep sq. leg off Gus Atkinson’s bowling. He in the end fell for 80 to Cameron Metal’s legspin, slapping to backward level, and Metal finished his 2nd five-wicket haul of the season when Migael Pretorius skied him to hide and Shoaib Bashir was once pinned lbw.

Metal is an not likely guy to be main the wicket-taking charts in Department One after two rounds, together with his 14 wickets already greater than double the quantity he controlled final yr (six). However he has labored arduous on his bowling in the course of the wintry weather, coaching with New South Wales and Sydney Sixers in Australia, and has loved the chance to be Surrey’s major spinner with Will Jacks on the IPL.

Somerset’s first-day cave in of seven for 20 left them in the back of for the remainder of the sport, however their trainer, Jason Kerr, mentioned he was once happy with the “resilience” that his aspect confirmed. “Except for about 40 mins on day one, we have now been remarkable on this recreation, in particular on days two and 3 with the ball after which as of late, the resilience that the fellows demonstrated.

“You concept we have been attending to the purpose the place we have been shutting the sport down – however then we gave them a sniff. However in a similar fashion, the best way Lewis and Kasey bowled specifically to close the sport down… I believe the draw was once an even consequence. Lewis has been remarkable. He is in nice shape, and main brilliantly. Lengthy would possibly it proceed.”

Surrey have been disillusioned to not recover from the road, however will welcome Dan Worrall again into their squad after they face Kent on Friday and their seamers might be happy to have a Dukes ball again of their fingers. “It was once a tricky slog for us,” Metal mentioned. “All credit score to them for the best way they performed on a just right pitch.”