Thursday 27 May 2010

Consecutive wins...against Northamptonshire...at Wantage Road

If I was a Northants fan I'd count myself a bit unlucky, the members at Wantage road have had Surrey, they of just the two wins in 38 matches, visit twice inside twelve months now, and seen their side lose on both occasions.

Surrey turned around what looked like it could conceivably have been an innings defeat if all had gone wrong yesterday morning into a pretty comfortable victory today.

At 210-7, still 38 short of the follow on target, Surrey could've capitulated and handed the initiative to Northants.  But they didn't, they showed immense character and resolve to win the key sessions - something they have this season thus far failed to do.  With six Northants wickets remaining this morning a draw looked marginally the most likely result but Surrey collected those notorious early wickets and had the opposition back in the hutch by lunchtime.  Andre Nel followed up his 96 yesterday with 4-61 to complete an excellent match for him.

With 241 the target we might reasonably have expected Surrey to start tentatively but both Harinath and Davies both started aggressively and their intent showed the rest of the Surrey batsmen the way.  Though Davies got out early for just 25, Harinath continues to contribute, 48 today and then Ramps, well Ramps is just incredible.  His last four innings read 223, 103*, 70 and 78*, averaging in the 70s for the season.

Rory Hamilton-Brown was his customary aggressive self with 45 at better than a run a ball and by the time he was out the target was below 100 for Ramps and Afzaal to shepherd the side home to.

We should be under no illusions, this is only a drop in the ocean and we are still rooted firmly to the foot of the table - there is loads of work still to do, but the character the lads showed in this game was outstanding, now to Glamorgan for two in two!

2 comments:

Wes playforcountrynotforself said...

I did not believe my eyes resp. ears, you really had them out before lunch! Three wickets in the first hour or so? That was pretty much fantastic. Congrats, much needed victory!

Cheers,
Wes
A little video on a big man

GreenJJ said...

Cheers Wes, you think you couldn't believe it? Imagine what it was like for me!!

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