Exceptional

Never let it be said that I am backward in coming forward when it comes to praising our team, over the last three days we have comprehensively beaten Leicestershire and in doing so have played some outstanding cricket.

The spotlight will fall today on Stuart Meaker and Jade Dernbach, with some considerable justification. I managed to hot-foot it to the Oval this evening to see the two quick bowlers share the final four wickets between them, Meaker with three and Dernbach with one. Meaker's victims were largely tail-enders but he gave them nothing whatsoever, he bowled fast and straight and the stumps were shattered. Dernbach did the damage earlier in the day and deservedly ended the innings to complete his five-for, having James Taylor caught at deep square leg. Taylor for his part played exceptionally for the 15 or so overs I saw him and I understand he was top class throughout. I think he's probably the best young batsman in England.

Earlier in the day Ramps missed out on his first hundred of the season, he was dismissed for 91 in the pursuit of quick runs ahead of a declaration - ever the team man! Good hands were also played by de Bruyn and Davies.

The result is a vindication for Adams who gambled on a five man attack. It turned out not to be a gamble at all as the groundsman did his part in preparing a green pitch and Surrey's pace bowlers did the rest. Its also something of a vindication for Hamilton-Brown who has now enjoyed three really good games on the trot as captain.

Surrey now have a day off to prepare for the CB40 game on Sunday and they will want to keep this winning habit going. I said at the start of the season that the nature of our side will make consistency tricky to attain, but they will nonetheless be striving hard for it. Morale will be back up and I hope they carry this momentum forward for the next few games. Well played boys!