Surrey had a perfect start to the 2008 season with a successful all-round team performance as they beat Northamptonshire by 7 wickets in their first pre-season match.

Watch the highlights of the action on Surrey TV here. The day started as Surrey captain Mark Butcher won the toss and ask to field. After the morning mist cleared from Wantage road a beautiful spring day made for a great day to play cricket and for both teams to get a run out. The match was played as per the format of the ensuing Friends Provident Trophy. Northamptonshire made a timid start on a pitch that was a little slow, but exceptionally true for this time of year. James Ormond started very well for Surrey to contain the scoring in the early overs before Stephen Peters and Naill O’Brien began to find their feet and take advantage of a short boundary on one side. The score was on 61 in the 14th over when O’Brien skied a drive from Neil Saker and Murtaza Hussain took an incredible catch under a swirling ball at mid-on.

Saker then removed Peters for 44 in his next over leg before in what was to be a great spell for the Surrey seamer. The pitch was offering a little seam movement and Saker’s immaculate line and length made scoring difficult. At the other end Chris Jordan began well and was going from strength to strength as he was making the batsmen play and only conceded 11 runs from his first 7 over spell. A change of ends for Saker meant he found a little more seam movement and then proceeded to remove the Northamptonshire middle order. David Sales was LBW for 24. Then England Under 19 captain Alex Wakeley was bowled by a ball he wanted to leave but jagged back a long way to remove his off stump. An over later and Rikki Wessels tried to charge Saker only to send the ball high into the air for Chris Schofield to take a nonchalant catch, giving the Surrey seamer a five wicket haul. The score was 137 for 5 in the 35th over and Saker had taken all five wickets to finish with figures of five for 38 off 10. The hard winter work from Saker was really paying off and you can watch an interview with Neil Saker discussing his off-season programme by clicking here.

Jordan continued his fine bowling and picked up Rob White for 62, the mainstay of Northamptonshire’s innings, holing out to Mark Ramprakash at long on. Jordan found life from an otherwise low track to cause the batsmen problems and ended up with figures of one for 24 off 10. Mark Nelson hit some clean strikes on his way to a quick fire 50, taking a liking to Jade Dernbach. However, Dernbach had his man in the end as Nelson fell for 56, helping the score on to 242 for 7 at the close.

The sun was still shinning and the Surrey openers wasted no time in getting above the asking rate. Scott Newman was timing the ball exceptionally well and played some beautiful back foot drives on either side of the wicket for four. Newman also picked Dave Wigley up for a huge 6 over mid-wicket. Ali Brown was driving well and timing shots through the off-side to take advantage of the slightest width from the seamers. The score was on 112 in the 18th over when the partnership was broken. Newman playing around a b all that did not turn from off-spinner Jason Brown, Newman out for 55.

Mark Ramprakash came to the crease and was watchful to begin with, allowing Brown to get into his stride. The powerful Brown wasted no time against the spinners and was blasting the ball to all parts. One large six sent the Surrey players scampering for cover on the pavilion balcony. Brown reached a run a ball hundred with a deftly guide to third man. He had scored all around the ground and looked comfortable against all that Northamptonshire could throw at him. He finally succumbed on 107 after failing to clear mid-off from the bowling of Nelson, the score on 201. Ali Brown making an early season mark in a year he say's he has a point to prove. Listen to his aims for 2008 on Surrey TV.

Ramprakash then came into his own and bludgeoned a few balls out of the ground as Surrey cruised to victory with seven overs to spare and Ramprakash playing a sublime cover-drive to finish the game and end on 52 not out.

Surrey won by seven wickets and completed a very good work out for the players ahead of next week’s matches at the Brit Insurance Oval.

Click here to watch all the action on Surrey TV.

On Tuesday the 8th of April Surrey take on Middlesex at the Brit Insurance Oval and admission is free.

Keep up to date with all the latest news from the Surrey players with the Surrey TV Podcast. In this week's epidsode you can herefrom first team physio about how all the players have been getting on with pre-season. Click here to listen now.

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