High scoring game between Surrey and Essex ended in a draw

A high scoring game of the County Championship Division Two, between Surrey and Essex, ended in a draw at the Whitgift School, Croydon in England.

The home team was given a target of 367 by Essex, but they could only manage 65 runs for the loss of one wicket before the final day of play was called off by the umpires.

Essex were put into bat by the home team’s skipper, Rory Hamilton-Brown. The pitch was dry and it didn’t have any assistance for the bowlers.

The start to the visitors’ innings was not an ideal one, as they lost of couple of early wickets. However, England’s newly appointed One Day International (ODI) captain, Alastair Cook, was in an impressive form and scored a valiant 63 for his team.

He got good support from Matt Walker, who ended up with 76 runs before being dismissed. Middle-order batsman, Adam Wheater, also batted nicely and scored 64 runs in his innings. However, the highlight of the Essex innings was a superb century by Graham Napier.

The seasoned campaigner smashed the opposition bowlers to all parts of the park and scored 196 runs off just 130 deliveries. He muscled 19 fours and 16 thunderous sixes in his blistering knock, guiding the team’s total to 548.

The home team’s bowlers didn’t have many options when Napier was on song, but Stuart Meaker bowled well, taking four wickets in the innings.

In reply, Surrey also responded well, scoring 506 runs. The team was given a tremendous start by openers, Hamilton-Brown and Tom Maynard. They put together 136 runs for the first wicket, before Maynard was sent back to the pavilion after adding 43 runs to the total.

The Surrey skipper didn’t throw his wicket away and ended up with a brilliant ton. He collected 159 runs off 195 balls with the help of 28 fours.

Half-centuries from Kevin Pietersen, Zander de Bruyn and Gareth Batty helped the team get past 500 and the match was all set for a draw.

David Masters and Chris Wright shared three wickets each for Essex, but they didn’t get much support from the other bowlers.

Essex were all out for 324 in their second outing and gained an overall lead of 366 runs. Cook scored his second half-century of the match and was dismissed after scoring 64 runs. Lower-order batsman, Tim Phillipsalso did a terrific job, scoring 58 runs for his team.

Batty gave away plenty of runs in the first innings, but did a decent job in the second outing, taking three wickets for the home team.

Surrey only had 14 overs in the day and managed 65 runs, at the cost of one wicket. Hamilton-Brown remained unbeaten on 34 whereas Maynard was the lone wicket to fall. He became a victim of Chris Chambers, after adding 26 runs to the total.