Centuries from Mark Stoneman and Joe Cracknell threatened to take the game away from Surrey, but inspired by their spinners and their opening partnership, the hosts fought back to make sure that there is all to play for on the final day of this Second XI Championship fixture in New Malden.
The morning of day three was seized by the visitors, scoring 157 runs in the session for the loss of a solitary wicket. Former England international Stoneman, who was unbeaten on 30 overnight, carried on his good form, and reached a well-made century before 15-year-old debutant Alex French got his opportunity with the ball and found the left-hander’s outside edge that was held by Ben Geddes at wide slip.
In partnership with Cracknell, Stoneman added 181 runs for Middlesex, reducing the deficit to 118 by the time his wicket fell, with Middlesex on 213/3.
After lunch as well, Middlesex continued to mount pressure on Surrey as Cracknell also brought up his century. But immediately after crossing the milestone, Amar Virdi lured him to play a lavish cover drive – an edge was found and Geddes held on again at first slip, meaning Cracknell was dismissed for 103.
Even though both the centurions were back in the changing room, another Middlesex partnership started to nurture. A brilliant run out – executed by an ingenious Oliver Pascall and Geddes – however turned the tide and initiated Surrey’s fightback.
313 for five quickly became 329 for eight as Surrey’s spinners got into the action, with Tommy Ealham and Yousef Majid sharing the three wickets to fall in this period of play.
The ninth-wicket partnership showed resilience and took Middlesex into the lead, but with the visitors on 360/8, Majid got Salter caught at deep point for 20 as the latter tried to switch hit the left-armer. Two runs later, Ealham rounded off Middlesex’s innings for a total of 362 runs, finishing with impressive figures of 3/31. Majid (2/57) and Matt Dunn (2/52) also showed promise for the hosts.
If Middlesex would have thought that with a lead of 31 runs, they were slightly ahead in the game, a great start by Surrey’s openers Geddes (33*) and Ryan Patel (52*) levelled the equation and ensured that we are set for a gripping day of cricket on day four in New Malden.
Patel followed up his brilliant century in the first innings with an equally fluent half-century in the second, while Geddes also looked solid before stumps.
Surrey closed the day on 98/0 from 24 overs, leading Middlesex by 67 runs.
