Surrey 2s opener Ben Geddes (pictured above) will be opening for Ashtead in the red ball match at Park Lane on Saturday. [photo from Surrey CC]

Ollie	Tommy

Reporting by Surrey CC

Ollie Sykes drove Surrey to a four-wicket win over Hampshire with a clutch, unbeaten 72 in what was a tense and hard-fought Second XI Championship match at New Malden.

Tommy Ealham spun a web around Hampshire at New Malden with a smashing six-for to bowl them out for 219 in the second innings after a dash down the order from Amar Virdi cut down the first innings deficit to nine runs.

Day 4 report
Resuming on 65/1, requiring 164 runs from 96 overs to win, Surrey were pushed into a worrisome position early on after Hampshire’s seamers started strongly.

EC Martin produced a delivery that seamed away from Arjun Gill (35) sharply, catching a feather through to the wicketkeeper AJ MacEwen.

Skipper Josh Blake (1), who scored a superb century in the first innings, departed shortly after in the same manner off John Turner before Martin collected his second scalp in the form of Tommy Ealham (6), who also was caught behind.

With the scoreboard reading 94/4 and Surrey still 135 runs short of the target, Sykes and Stuart van der Merwe (50) came together and steered their side closer to safety with a counter-attacking 96-run partnership.

The two left-handers batted proactively and took the attack to Hampshire. Van der Merwe reached a dashing fifty from just 42 balls but had to go the very next ball when he attempted to clear SL Davis over long-on.

Hampshire ended the morning session as they started it, wrestling themselves back into the game with the wicket of Adam Thomas (2), who was clean-bowled by Turner.

The equation in the afternoon session was simple – Surrey needed 30 runs and Hampshire four wickets. However, Sykes, who was recently named Wisden’s Schools Cricketer of the Year, and Yousef Majid (19*) didn’t offer any more chances to the visitor to sniff out a victory.

Batting with maturity and displaying impressive intent, the two left-handers completed Surrey’s well-deserved and hard-earned win at New Malden.

Day 3 report

Chasing 229 runs, Surrey closed the day on 65/1 and require 164 runs on the final day to win this hard-fought Second XI Championship match.

Resuming on 304/9, Virdi and Matt Dunn shared an entertaining partnership and remarkably added 42 runs to Surrey’s overnight score, frustrating Hampshire along the way. Finally, with Surrey on 346, Dunn was bowled by EV Jack for 17, who ended with 3/82.

The visitors began their innings exceedingly well, openers WJ La Fontaine-Jackson and JJ Weatherley scoring 52 together, before Virdi pinned the latter lbw for 23 and found the first breakthrough.

WJ La Fontaine-Jackson continued to make merry and moved to his second fifty in the match, finding a supportive partner in BA Maynes.

Thanks to their 79-run stand, Hampshire were 131/1 and looking set for a big score when the tide turned. It was the off-spin of Ealham (6/74) that changed Surrey’s fortunes.

After Ealham wrapped the pads of La Fontaine-Jackson and had him dismissed for 58, Surrey’s spinners turned the screw. Majid immediately struck from the other end, getting Mayes caught for 34 and leaving the visitors 131/3.

Ealham, who was in exceptional rhythm, didn’t stop there, collecting five more Hampshire batters within the next 49 runs – FD Gordon (4) was caught in the slips and SJ Ashman (7) cleaned up next before K Dhariwal (0), AJ MacEwen (16), and Jack (3) held out.

Hampshire were 180/8 and struggling but JA Wright (46 off 26 balls) showed some resolve and took his side to 219 all out with a counter-attacking knock, setting a target of 229 runs for Surrey.

By the time Nathan Barnwell got Wright hooking and caught in the deep to wrap up the innings, Majid (2/42) had already removed Martin for no score.

Ben Geddes and Arjun Gill started Surrey’s run-chase solidly, finding their groove against the new ball of Turner and Jack and striking five boundaries each in an opening stand of 57.

However, late in the day, the visitors got a lucky break with Turner strangling Geddes down the leg-side for 24.

After the breakthrough, Ealham (2*) and Gill (29*) navigated the remaining couple of overs as Surrey closed on 65/1, requiring 164 runs from 96 overs to win.

Click here for Day 2 report

Click here for Day 1 report

Click here for the Scorecard