Surrey take a 266 run lead into day three of the game against Middlesex after a century for Ryan Patel and fifties for Cam Steel and Josh Blake allowed Surrey to declare on 331/8. Two wickets for Matt Dunn before the close has given Surrey a good platform heading into day three.
The second morning started in a similar fashion to the first one – Surrey’s batters, Ryan Patel and Cam Steel, raced off the blocks, adding 31 runs to their overnight score of 69/1 inside the first four overs of the day. Going over a rate of 5 runs per over, the Three Feathers had already put 100 runs on the board by the end of the 19th over.
In the 21st over, Patel gracefully caressed BJ Salter through the covers for a boundary to bring up an easy-on-the-eye half-century off 64 balls. However, with just over 40 minutes of play on day two, Surrey’s impressive start was halted by a rain interruption and an early lunch was taken, with Surrey on 125/1 at the interval.
Before the rain interruption, both the batters batted liberally and were able to find the rope almost without breaking a sweat. Patel, exquisite through the covers and on the pull shot, found a lot of joy in his strong areas, striking three fours on the offside as well as pulling BJ Salter for a maximum. On the other end, Steel was also batting positively. Using the late cut profitably, he too hit five boundaries before an early lunch was taken.
The weather improved, and Cam Steel welcomed the resumption of play, by dispatching a M Andersson delivery through the covers to the boundary rope.
In the afternoon session, Surrey continued to bat aggressively, and a third Patel six over square leg brought up the 100-run partnership between him and Steel off just 129 balls, taking Surrey to 144/1 in the 30th over.
The second-wicket stand continued to thrive, and soon, Steel also reached a well-made half-century, flicking Salter off his hips for a single. However, with Surrey on 186/1, the huge 144-run partnership was broken when Steel was caught at fine leg off the bowling of O Winterbottom for 55.
Five runs later, Patel was also removed as Salter found his outside edge that landed in the waiting hands of J Cracknell, but there was enough time for the left-handed opener to complete a brilliant century, which included seven fours and three sixes.
The best period of the game for Middlesex’s bowlers became even better when they got a third wicket in quick succession. Number five Stuart Van der Merwe was removed by Slater for six, reducing Surrey to 197/4.
With the Three Feathers in need of a partnership, recent T20 debutant Josh Blake was joined by Nick Kimber, and the two of them added 52 runs before the tea interval, safely guiding Surrey to 249/4.
In the evening session, Surrey’s fifth-wicket partnership built on their good work. By the time Josh Blake stylishly dabbed a Winterbottom delivery to third man for a single and become the inning’s third batter to pass fifty, Surrey had reached 283/4.
Having come together during a tricky time, Blake and Kimber had taken Surrey to a strong position mid-way through the evening session. The impressive 119-run partnership was, however, ended as a brilliant Andersson delivery feathered the outside edge of Blake’s bat for a well-made 67.
Right after Blake’s wicket, his batting partner Kimber was also bowled out for 49 as Andersson struck again, leaving Surrey 317/6.
Tommy Ealham, who almost pulled off a magnificent victory against Hampshire in the previous fixture, and debutant Luke Griffiths were the two new batters tasked with stringing together a quick partnership for the Three Feathers.
However, this time it was not to be as both of them were dismissed cheaply in an attempt to bat aggressively. Surrey ended up declaring on 331/8, inviting Middlesex to bat in the final hour of play.
Salter (4/61) and Andersson (3/88) were the pick of the bowlers for Middlesex.
Matt Dunn, returning to action, struck early – removing Jack Davies with an angled delivery that took the outside edge and was pouched at slip by Cam Steel. Two balls later he picked up his second wicket, pinning Robbie White lbw without scoring.
Mark Stoneman (30*) and Joe Cracknell (11*) steadily rebuilt for Middlesex, reaching 65/2 at the close.
