An opening partnership of 196 between the in-form Ryan Patel and the up-and-coming Ben Geddes was the perfect response as Surrey replied to the Sri Lanka Development XI’s 372/9 dec at Guildford on the second day of this four-day game.
Ryan Patel is no stranger to feats of derring-do at Guildford’s Woodbridge Road ground. It was here against then Championship leaders Somerset in 2018 that he first came to the attention of the wider public, picking up an astonishing 6/5 in 23 balls. Then last year he hit a 70-ball 131 against Nottinghamshire in the Royal London Cup that seems to have flicked a switch in his batting.
Here today we saw the finished article that has been on display in the LV= County Championship already this season. Committing fully to front and back foot strokes, and especially murderous on the pull, Patel showed the young Sri Lankan bowlers all the shots after the visitors had declared on 372/9, with skipper Perera excelling for his unbeaten 150. Amir Virdi and Tom Lawes both picked up three wickets for the home side.
Patel’s opening partner Ben Geddes suffered little in comparison, driving nicely and ending unbeaten on 75, with thoughts of a century surely on his mind tomorrow morning.
Here are your highlights from Guildford today… plenty of boundaries form the bats of Geddes and Patel. pic.twitter.com/71PImur4r2
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) May 21, 2022
A live stream of the match will be available on the Surrey website each day and updates will be provided throughout the day as well as short highlights and a report at the close. To see the scorecard and ball by ball highlights visit NV Play.
