Ollie Sykes scored a blistering century as Surrey piled on 437 runs in the first innings of their Second XI Championship Final against Worcestershire at Loughborough.
After losing the toss and being inserted by Worcs, openers Adam Thomas and Josh Blake started well, taking the score to 52 before Adam Thomas was caught behind for 27 off a wonderful delivery by Worcestershire trialist Sam Greer. Fellow trialist Ramon Bailey struck six runs later as Josh Blake chopped on for 25 to leave Surrey 58/2.
Captain Ollie Sykes came in at number three and immediately went to work. Alongside Wimbledon CCs Tim Lloyd, the pair were aggressive and kept the scoreboard moving, going to 50 for the third wicket from 48 balls.
Sykes moved past 50 from 47 balls – hitting eleven boundaries in his first 50 runs. The pair moved past three figures for the third wicket, with Tim Lloyd passing 50 soon after.
Lloyd’s innings came to an end as he was caught at slip attempting to reverse sweep the off spin of Fateh Singh for 65 in the 45th over with the score 214/3. Nathan Farmer was bowled by Singh four overs later.
Captain Sykes creamed Darley through the covers to move to three figures from just 92 balls before Alex Dodson was dismissed for 2 to give Singh his third wicket.
Sykes’ innings eventually came to an end in the 62nd over with the score on 284/6 when he was caught at point off the left arm leg spin of Tom Hinley for 128 from 115 balls, which included 17 fours and three huge sixes.
James Taylor added a handy 31 before he was stumped off the bowling of Hinley. Nathan Barnwell entered the fray and started hitting his usual bombs – moving to his half-century from 73 balls.
Yousef Majid and Barnwell added 58 for the eighth wicket before the left-hander was bowled by Greer for 25 to leave Surrey 399/8 in the 90th over. Five overs later, Singh picked up his fourth wicket when he bowled Harry Gardner for eight with the score on 431.
Barnwell’s fine lower-order knock came to an end for 80 with the first ball of the 97th over when he was bowled by Bailey to leave Surrey with an incredibly competitive first innings total of 437 all out.
