Surrey Second XI got the T20 season with a dramatic tie against Hampshire at the LSE Ground in New Malden yesterday.
In a Surrey team led by Gareth Batty that had youth interspersed with experience, Nico Reifer (73 off 53) and triallist wicket keeper Billy Mead (57 off 52) were the engine room of the innings, adding 123 for the second wicket.
Hampshire’s response was much more of a team effort, with Surrey taking regular wickets throughout. Jade Dernbach, playing his first game of the season, led the way with 3/24, removing James Fuller (16), Harry Broderick (30) and Chris Wood (24) with his trademark series of white ball variations.
Reece Topley (1/24), Gareth Batty (2/38) and Matt Dunn (2/29) were also in the wickets as the game built towards a tense final over, Hampshire requiring eight to win from the final six deliveries, bowled by Dernbach.
Although the seamer secured wickets from the first and third balls, Hampshire pair Ryan Stevenson and George Metzger were able to scramble a single from the final ball, Mead whipping the bails off with Stevenson painstakingly short of the winning run to secure a tie.
Surrey are also in action on Tuesday and Wednesday at New Malden, taking on Sussex (Tuesday) and Essex (Wednesday) as the squad continues to tune up for the start of the Vitality Blast against Middlesex at Lord’s on Thursday June 10th and the first home game, against Glamorgan at The Kia Oval on Monday June 14th.
To see a full scorecard and clips of the action, please click here.
