Surrey needed only four overs on day three to complete the victory over Warwickshire by an innings and 97 runs at the Kia Oval and move a big step closer to successive LV= Insurance County Championship titles.
Their 22-point victory, Surrey’s eighth of the season, will push them at least 18 points clear of second-placed Essex, even if their only rivals for the championship pennant can gain maximum bowling points and also go on to beat Middlesex at Chelmsford later in this round of matches. Both counties will then have just two games left in the campaign.
Warwickshire, who lost 17 wickets to Surrey’s irresistible pace battery on the second day, were bowled out for 138 after resuming still 109 runs behind the 2022 champions and long-time Division One leaders at 126 for seven.
They had been asked to follow on the previous day and Dan Worrall struck with the fifth ball of the morning to remove Henry Brookes for seven, fencing to second slip, and the match was soon over.
Worrall also sent back Dan Mousley in his second over, the left-hander thin-edging to keeper Ben Foakes to depart for 61. Mousley had resisted stubbornly on the second evening but added only a single to his overnight score as Surrey closed in ruthlessly.
Victory came just 15 minutes into the day’s play when Jordan Clark castled last man Chris Rushworth for six with the last ball of his second over.
Worrall finished with five for 25 and outstanding match figures of eight for 59, while Clark took four for 26 in Warwickshire’s second innings and five wickets overall.
Kemar Roach’s second day four for 64 did much to send Warwickshire sliding to 161 all out in their first innings, in reply to Surrey’s 396, and Tom Lawes was Surrey’s other wicket-taker in their five-pronged pace attack with two for 27 first time around.
“A pretty remarkable couple of days but good to come out on the right side of it.”@backandacross caught up with the skipper Rory Burns after a terrific win, and offers some advice for the next coin toss…
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— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) September 5, 2023
“There’s just no let up!”
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) September 5, 2023
Centurion Ben Foakes heaps praise onto the bowling unit after their brilliant performance to dismiss Warwickshire twice in 24 hours, he spoke to @backandacross at the close.
🤎 | #SurreyCricket pic.twitter.com/tXHKEMpY0i
