If the Second XI Championship clash between Surrey and Derbyshire motored along swiftly, day two flew by like a jet plane, as 16 wickets fell and 363 runs were scored in New Malden.
Yousef Majid (5/66) and Cam Steel (3/6) spun a web to induce a batting collapse and drag Surrey back in the game. The spin duo claimed six wickets in the morning session and restricted their visitors to a lead of just 31 runs, after starting the day in a strong position on 161/4.
Surrey were then bowled out for a quick-fire 268 in their second innings, with Ollie Sykes’ swashbuckling knock of 58 off 27 balls, in which all but two runs did not come in boundaries, being the highlight of the Three Feathers’ response. Chasing 238 for victory, Derbyshire’s openers brought some calm to end a thoroughly entertaining day of red-ball cricket, reaching 42/0 by the close.
Basra (92) and Stewart (9) began the second morning watchfully, adding 39 to Derbyshire’s overnight total. Left-arm spinner Majid stopped Basra’s well-composed knock, getting him caught at covers by Sykes.
The first breakthrough opened the door for the hosts as Majid found Old’s outside edge and had him caught at first slip for ten with a peach of a delivery before Cam Steel trapped Stewart LBW from the other end.
Majid knocked over the stumps Cliffe from behind his legs to complete a five-wicket haul and leg-spinner Steel combined with Sykes at gully to get rid of Potts and Green as Derbyshire were all out for 214. Skipper Sykes’ one-handed diving grab for the final wicket was nothing short of a pearler.
Behind by 31 runs in their second innings, Surrey openers Adam Thomas (12) and Josh Blake (40) battled hard to see out the new ball, however, their valiant effort was broken when Haydon went through Thomas’ defences.
Sykes (58 off 27 balls) then walked out to the middle and brought a storm along with him, smashing six fours and five sixes as the Surrey skipper and Blake added 92 runs in 58 balls.
Caught by surprise and pushed back by their hosts, Derbyshire fought back by removing both the left-handers in a span of seven balls, with Potts accounting for Blake and Sykes’ rocket lofted drive off the bowling of Wagstaff being held at long off.
Much like the first innings, Nikhil Gorantla (35) offered resistance but saw wickets tumbling from the other end as Steel (8) and Ollie Hunt (19) were dismissed by the leg spin of Tarrant and James Taylor (2) by that of Wagstaff, who finished with 5/87.
Following the pattern of the first innings, Surrey’s lower-order made valuable contributions, taking Surrey to 268 all out and giving themselves a total to defend. This time left-hander Majid, having impressed with the ball, struck five 4s and a six to finish on 47 not out while Nathan Barnwell (8), Matt Dunn (14) and Luke Griffiths (14) offered him support.
Although Wagstaff (18*) and Tarrant (24*) navigated the new ball well, Surrey would hope that their spinners would come into the match tomorrow as this topsy-turvy game of cricket nears its conclusion.
