Ben Foakes stood firm for Surrey on day three of their Rothesay County Championship Division One match against Warwickshire at Edgbaston.
In reply to the home side’s 665 for five, Surrey closed the third day on 369 for nine, still 296 short of the follow on figure. Ben Foakes is unbeaten on 85 (185 balls), Dom Sibley struck 64 (199) and Cam Steel made an excellent 55 (108).
The Bears’ bowlers were rewarded for collective persistence after off-spinner Rob Yates jolted an apparent stalemate into life with a three-wicket burst. On a pitch which has yielded 14 wickets in three days, Warwickshire need to find 11 on the fourth, but their big-hearted bowling display has kept the game alive.
Surrey resumed on the third morning on 98 for one and lost just one wicket in the morning session when Ryan Patel played away from his body at Beau Webster and edged to wicketkeeper Alex Davies. Lunchtime arrived with three wickets having fallen in the previous four sessions, but early in the afternoon Yates took three in six overs.
Sibley, having hit seven fours in 268 minutes, departed after clipping to backward point and Lawrence was then given out caught behind.
Foakes and Steel dug in to add 113 in 33 overs but another three wickets fell for one run in 28 balls.
Steel, having just smote Ed Barnard for six to post his half-century, had his leg bail clipped by Olly Hannon-Dalby. Che Simmons then struck twice – both genuine fast-bowler’s dismissals. Jordan Clark tried to leave a ball but was surprised by bounce and gloved it to the keeper. Nathan Smith guided another rising delivery to leg slip.
Tom Lawes inside-edged Webster to the keeper but Foakes stayed strong to the close and Surrey will look to the England player to hoover up some more time on the final day.
Surrey batter Dom Sibley said: “We would have liked to be going into the final day with a few less wickets down but Foakesy did brilliantly there at the end and hopefully we can bat the day out tomorrow. Foakesy has had a great start to the season, he is really churning them out. He has been left with the tail and not out a couple of times and is playing brilliantly.
“Credit to Warwickshire, they have bowled really well on a surface which is still good for batting but hopefully we can bat long tomorrow and get a draw.
“I felt good out there. I found it difficult to score at times, they bowled well and when the ball went really soft it was hard to pierce the field but this sort of situation is just about grinding it out. I was obviously disappointed to get out the way I did but I’m confident we can get the job done tomorrow.”
ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
