Surrey cruise to victory

13 April 2012

Mark Ramprakash hit an unbeaten 97 off 117 balls to help Surrey cruise to a six-wicket victory over Essex with three overs to spare in their Benson and Hedges Cup zonal match.  

He was backed up by Alec Stewart, who in his first game of the season scored 59 off 118 balls, including six fours. It contributed to a 151 second-wicket partnership.

Stewart's dismissal slowed the home team, who earlier in the innings looked unstoppable even with the early departure of opener Ian Ward.

Ward had scored 18 of their first 20 runs off just 12 balls before falling to a Barry Hyam catch off Ronnie Irani's bowling.

Essex threw everything they had at Surrey, putting on six bowlers inside 18 overs, but it made no difference as Surrey reached their 100 in the 21st over.

Benson and Hedges gold award winner Ramprakash smashed six fours and a six to reach his total.

Alistair Brown also put in a useful 26 off 19 balls before being bowled by Andrew McGarry in the 46th over.

Before lunch Essex could not build on a 105-run partnership between Nasser Hussain and Stuart Law after opener Darren Robinson was run out for a duck in the first over - paying the price for his own bad decision.

Law was the first to reach 50, scored off 68 balls including five fours. He immediately followed with the shot of the innings, a solid off-drive for four.

Hussain got to 50 in the 25th over from 77 balls, including three fours and one six, but the partnership was broken next ball, when Law fell for 55 to a good Brown catch at short mid-wicket off Ian Salisbury's bowling.

Adam Hollioake did well to pin Essex down and finish with four for 36 off 10 overs. Salisbury also bowled tightly finishing with one for 34 off 10 overs.

The pair, backed up with some excellent fielding, and prevented the Essex batsmen from scoring boundaries for 13 overs.

Hussain fell in the 33rd over for 63 off 104 balls, his highest score in England in 39 innings. The England captain's departure caused a mini collapse - four wickets went for just 22 runs. Stephen Peters went for nine, caught by Brown, Irani was run out for 21 after a mix-up with Adrian Grayson, Hyam went for seven and Graham Napier went without scoring.

Grayson provided a bit of tailend excitement scoring 23 off 30 balls including three fours before being bowled by Hollioake.

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