The star of the show at Guildford was Josh Blake with his superb knock of 123 as Surrey Second XI put up 308 in the first innings of their two-day, red-ball friendly against Middlesex Second XI.
Surrey’s chief architect, Blake, was readily supported by Sheridon Gumbs (47), Nathan Barnwell (40*) and James Taylor (25) as the hosts crossed 300 against Middlesex’s probing bowling unit, which was lead by Thilan Walallawita (3/59) and Martin Andersson (3/68). In their reply, Middlesex closed day one on 13/0 from three overs.
Having won the toss and opted to bat, Surrey’s left-and-right combination of Gumbs and Ben Geddes came out to face Blake Cullen and Ishaan Kaushal’s opening spell on a bright, sunny morning in Guildford.
After hitting two crisp cover drives for four, Geddes was clean bowled for 11 by Kaushal, who impressed with his speed and swing, with Surrey on 26.
Next in was Nico Reifer, who combined with Gumbs for 35 more runs, taking the hosts to 61/1 before he was caught at cover off the bowling of Andersson for seven.
Wicketkeeper-batter Blake then joined Gumbs in the middle as the two left-handers added another 39 runs and brought about the hosts’ hundred, before spinner Walallawita snapped two quick wickets and left the Three Feathers 106/4 at the stroke of lunch.
Gumbs’ innings of 47 was a display of composure and control until Walallawita found his edge that was safely held in the slips by Cullen. Minutes later, the left-arm spinner struck Conor McKerr’s front pad and dismissed him lbw for nought.
After lunch, Middlesex maintained their bowling discipline as Blake and Lloyd dug in for Surrey and pushed to 135/4 before Walallawita picked up his third by beating Lloyd in the air and getting him stumped for eight.
Meanwhile Blake continued his impressive form and reached a well-complied fifty with a wonderful flick off his legs, but he soon lost another partner in Nick Kimber who was pinned lbw by Andersson for nought, with Surrey on 144/6.
This brought James Taylor to the crease, who played a counter-attacking cameo of 25 off 34 and took the hosts to 175/6. His entertaining innings was however cut short when left-arm spinner Nathan Fernandes got him lbw in the 56th over.
Surrey’s latest partnership between newcomer Barnwell and Blake took them well and way beyond 200 as they added 94 together before Toby Greatwood put an end to their progress by getting Blake caught for 123, with Surrey 269/8.
The left-hander, who played exquisite shots throughout his innings, reached his century in an audacious manner, reverse-sweeping Josh de Caires for a four.
After Blake’s departure, Surrey’s last two partnerships also put a price on their wickets and increased the hosts’ total by 39 as they finished on 308.
Eventually, Cullen picked up Amar Virdi for 17 and Andersson removed Yousef Majid for three, leaving Barnwell on a defiant, unbeaten 40.
To start off Middlesex’s innings, Jack Davies partnered de Caires as Taylor and McKerr got the new ball for Surrey.
Successfully negotiating three testing overs, Middlesex closed day one on 13/0, trailing by 295 runs.
The entry to day two at Guildford is free.
