Surrey Second XI are in action against Yorkshire at Guildford CC this week, in the four day Second XI Championship.
After suffering defeats to Hampshire and Essex so far this season, Surrey will be hoping to bounce back against the Club’s old rivals. Nine professional squad players are taking part in the match: Laurie Evans, Ryan Patel, Will Jacks, Nico Reifer, Liam Plunkett, Conor McKerr, Gus Atkinson, Daniel Moriarty, Nick Kimber and James Taylor.
There is also a further opportunity for Academy pair Ben Geddes and George Ealham, as well as triallists Justin Broad, a batsman, and wicket keeper Billy Mead.
This report will be updated daily throughout the week but for those who want to follow the action, click here for a scorecard with live clips.
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Day 1
After winning the toss and choosing to bowl, Gus Atkinson made a pair of early breakthroughs when Tom Loten (0) fenced to Ryan Patel at second slip and Matt Revis (4) was surprised by the lift off a back of the length and offered him a simple return catch.
George Hill (14) was bowled by a fine delivery from Kimber to reduce Yorkshire to 34/3 but a good partnership of 86 between James Wharton (57) and Harry Duke (66) brought the visitors back into it before Conor McKerr struck for the first time in match, removing Wharton, caught behind by Mead as he prodded forward.
Wicket keeper Ben Birkhead (33*) initially continued alongside Duke but the senior partner went to James Taylor, nicking behind to Mead off an attempted cover drive.
Captain Matthew Fisher (62*) joined Birkhead, but the keeper was forced to retire after being hit on the hand and Yorkshire then saw former Surrey man Mat Pillans become the final man to fall, bowled by Taylor off a large inside edge.
Josh Sullivan (20*) survived the last hour and a half alongside Fisher, as Yorkshire ended the day 286/6 from their 96 overs.
Day 2
Yorkshire added another 58 runs for the final four wickets, finishing 344 all out during the first session of the day. Skipper Fisher was eventually removed by James Taylor for 77, edging through to wicket keeper Mead. His overnight partner Sullivan went next, run out coming back for the second to Nicholas Kimber fielding at deep mid wicket.
Taylor was the wicket taker again for the ninth man, trapping Jack Shutt plumb in front. Will Jacks completed the week’s first innings, tossing one up to half-centurion Ben Birkhead and bowling him through the gate.
Surrey’s response got off to a catastrophic start, finding themselves 44/5 after 15.2 overs. Of the top three; Ryan Patel, Laurie Evans and Will Jacks, it was only Patel who altered the scoreboard. He made two. Nico Reifer scored an attractive 18 but also went before he could really make his mark and he was followed soon after by Justin Broad, who made six.
With the pressure on the lower order, Academy batsman Ben Geddes made his third half-century in three matches with a 65 that included eight fours and two sixes. Gus Atkinson scored 13 and Nicholas Kimber 24 before Conor McKerr and Daniel Moriarty made it to the end of the day unbeaten on 27 and 30 respectively.
Day 3
No play was possible on the third day at Guildford due to rain.
Day 4
With a result effectively impossible following the missed day, the sides shared the day with the bat.
Yorkshire made 188/5 from 54 overs before Surrey scored 121/3 in 30 overs to complete the action.
The professional bowlers enjoyed the conditions with Ryan Patel taking both openers lbw before Conor McKerr (bowled), James Taylor (caught behind) and Nicholas Kimber (hit wicket) all took one each.
Nico Reifer top scored in Surrey’s shortened second innings, ending unbeaten on 38 from 51 balls with seven fours to his name. Wicket keeper Billy Mead made 29, Laurie Evans 20 and Ryan Patel 17 while Justin Broad was with Reifer at the end and on 16 himself.
