Surrey’s spinners turned the tide in New Malden as the Three Feathers induced a batting collapse against Somerset and sealed a six-wicket win in their Second XI Championship clash.
Tommy Ealham (4/16) led the charge with his off spin, while Yousef Majid (2/16) hardly missed his mark and Stuart van der Merwe chipped in too as they bowled out Somerset for 115, who resumed the final day on 46/0, meaning Surrey were tasked to get 86 for victory.
Early in the morning, Gus Atkinson grabbed the first wicket of the day with a vicious bouncer, Sean Dickson (21), taking evasive action, gloved it through to the keeper.
The visitors’ longest and biggest stand of the day was to follow as WR Michael (47) and JF Thomas (18) added 34 runs for the second wicket. It all changed very quickly with the introduction of spin, Ealham finding the nick of left-handed Michael in his first over.
The fall of the second wicket signalled a slide that saw Somerset go from 82/2 to 115 all out, starting with Andy Umeed being caught at the square leg off Ealham’s bowling.
The off spinner collected a third, lefty Thomas feathering a beautiful delivery to the wicketkeeper, while Majid got into his work from the other end, KT Roberts (0) edging to Nick Gorantla at gully. The combo of Majid and Gorantla was again in action as BJ Church (0) suffered the same fate.
Surrey and Ealham continued to be on a roll as Alfie Ogborne (0) inside edged to short leg before van der Merwe pinned JM Theedom lbw for five. Shortly after, Nathan Barnwell’s pace did for the last two Somerset wickets.
Chasing 86, the hosts lost a wicket in the first over but cameos from van der Merwe (24), George Ealham (28*), Gus Atkinson (10) and Nathan Farmer (16*) took the Three Feathers home to a hard-fought six-wicket win.
