Saker and Clinton star in five wicket win

Published 5 July 2006

Read the latest Second Eleven match report from their game against Hampshire.

After losing to Hampshire by 19 runs in last week’s trophy game at the Rosebowl, Surrey turned the tables on their opponents at Normandy to win by five wickets in an exciting finish with one ball to spare.

Hampshire won the toss and chose to bat first on a boiling hot day. They made a steady start with Benny Howell and Michael Brown putting on 43 for the Neil Saker
Saker was once again in fine form first wicket but Neil Saker’s opening spell of 6-1-15-2 and an early wicket for leg spinner Zoheb Sharif pulled them down to 120 for four, of which Howell had scored 52 with eight fours. There followed an explosive interlude as Charlie Freeston powered his way to 44 from a meagre 17 balls with four sixes and three fours. After he was out, bowled by Neil Saker, the rest went fairly quietly and Hampshire were all out for 231. Surrey had fielded very tidily in the heat; Saker finished with 3- 31 from eight overs and Zoheb Sharif bowled well to take 4-37.

Surrey’s reply started with an opening stand of 140 between Chris Thompson and Richard Clinton. Thompson, normally a fast scorer, played a supporting role, hitting 44 from 109 balls with just four fours. Clinton, who is more often regarded, not altogether fairly, as a dogged slow scorer, sparkled in contrast. His 120 came from only 124
Richard Clinton played a big hand in the five wicket win with a superb hundred balls, included four sixes and 14 fours and laid the foundation for the ultimate victory. Clinton was the third man out, bowled by David Balcombe, with the score on 198. A good spell of bowling by left arm spinner Liam Dawson -10-1-34-1 had slowed progress down for a while and David Balcombe took 3-48 to leave Surrey on 231 -5. When Ragheb Aga came to the wicket Surrey needed one run to win with four balls remaining in the match. Aga scrambled a single from the penultimate ball to give Surrey a five wicket victory.