A strong Surrey 2nd XI side gathered at the re-arranged venue of Charterhouse School to play their Second XI Trophy competition against the MCC Young Cricketers.

Having lost the toss Surrey found themselves in the field as the Young Cricketers laboured against the accurate bowling of Neil Saker, conceding only 21 runs in his ten overs, and the pace of Jade Dernbach who took two for 23 in his opening spell. Jimmy Ormond, thankfully restored to fitness, caused considerable problems for the young batsmen as the score struggled to 96 for 4 from 26 overs.

Then a lively stand of 119 between Alex Hales (57) and skipper Mark Wright, who hit 76 from 65 balls with two fours and five sixes, brought a change of scenario. Hales was fifth man out when the score had reached 215 and Wright followed fifteen runs later but thanks to their efforts the MCC YCs had posted a total of 238 for seven from their fifty overs. Ormond finished with three for 33 in nine overs and Dernbach three for 39.

The target should have been easily within Surrey’s sights but they got off to a shaky start as Simon Roberts dismissed Benning and Newman cheaply and the score sat uncomfortably at 17 for two. Ali Brown held things together for a while hitting 47 from 41 balls and Stewart Walters played the captain’s role in steadying the ship although he continued to lose partners to the bowling of Roberts (four for 45) and Faisal Shahid (two for 39).

At 134 for seven Walters was joined by number nine batsman Jimmy Ormond and together they took the score to 221 for eight when Ormond was out lbw for a valiant 35. Walters had built his innings with circumspection, avoiding risks but keeping the score ticking over until he reached a deserved century. He was eventually out, bowled by Elgar, for exactly 100 from 126 balls with 11 fours to the first ball of the 49th over. Against the tightly-bowled last two overs Dernbach and King kept their wickets intact but found it difficult to score runs and at the end of the 50 overs Surrey disappointingly conceded victory by nine runs to the visitors.

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