I wasn’t at this match (Friends Provident trophy, v Kent, at Canterbury, Sunday 18 May). I was at Lords, dressed inappropriately in cropped trousers and sandals.
However, despite Surrey losing this one, it looked entertaining, with Kent putting on a big total and Surrey making a decent fist of chasing it down but without succeeding, and I need something to say on this blog while waiting for Ramps’ hundredth hundred.
So. The Cricket:
Kent scored 337, after centuries from Martin Van Jaarsveld and Darren Stevens. Jade “If I could” Dernbach again had the worst bowling figures, although it wasn’t a good day for the Surrey bowlers overall. Pedro “Vote For” Collins wasn’t playing so doesn’t share in the ignominy.
Only Chris Jordan got any wickets, but those included getting Rob Key with the first ball he bowled. I hope Chris Jordan doesn’t now become some kind of Kingcricket nemesis.
Anyone who doesn’t follow Surrey regularly might not know much about Chris Jordan. He is very young (19), from Barbados, is a definite prospect and yes, DOES qualify to play for England but before you get too excited hasn’t made a decision either way. I strongly suspect he is only keeping the England option open out of politeness toward the people who keep asking him whether it’s going to be England or the Windies, as he seems such a nice boy. I’m keeping a keen eye on him.
In reply, Surrey were doing very nicely, until Azhar Mahmood joined the party, of whom more below. Mark Butcher scored his highest one-day score (139, which is, astonishingly, only his second one-day century, yes who knew?) but Surrey fell 17 runs short, finishing on 320 and losing six wickets for 27 runs in the process.
Overseas Player Who Caught My Eye (well, whose stats caught my eye): Azhar Mahmood, who I am trying my hardest not to nickname Azhar “Turncoat” Mahmood, for his impact on the game. Surrey must have thought they were in with a shout, what with Butcher having steamed along, right until Azhar stepped up and delivered the killer blows, getting rid of Batty (4), Nicholson (7), Jordan (o noes! 4) and Saker (1).
New feature!!: Bat Out Of Hell. This is where I name and shame a batsman who in my highly subjective opinion should have done better. This week: sorry Ramps, it’s you. Apparently I don’t need to be there for him to struggle to make runs.
Kent are right on top of the SE division of this trophy and Surrey are what I believe is known as “languishing” second bottom having lost four out of their six matches.
Kent 337 (Van Jaarsveld 113*, Stevens 119*, Jordan 3 – 53). Surrey 320 (Butcher 139, Afzaal 74, Azhar 4 – 40). Kent win by 17 runs.
May 19, 2008 at 6:19 pm |
Disconcertingly, Kent have won every game I haven’t been able to attend and lost every one I have.
I can’t decide whether to be happy or not.
May 19, 2008 at 6:20 pm |
Lemon Bella, please could you go to the next Surrey-Kent game? Surrey have LOST every game I’ve been able to attend (although they have managed to lose ones that I haven’t attended too).
May 19, 2008 at 7:14 pm |
If we attend a game at the same time we’re guaranteeing an exciting draw.
May 19, 2008 at 8:37 pm |
Surrey won every match I went to last season (you’ll guess I didn’t get to any Championship games until after the monsoons). I thought I was a lucky charm – however I am obviously past my ‘use by’ date and am now merely a mouldy yoghurt hidden at the back of the Surrey fridge.
BTW – were the sandals Birkenstocks?
May 19, 2008 at 10:19 pm |
Not only were they birkenstocks, they matched miriam’s not-quite-adequate fleecy top.
May 19, 2008 at 11:40 pm |
Lemon Bella, let’s wait until a tie will shaft someone we don’t like in the points table, and then attend together.
Mel, Evening Do is correct re the colour-matching of my outfit. I should point out though that the inadequacy of the top relates to its thickness and its warmth. The top was perfectly adequate in terms of coverage.
May 20, 2008 at 6:36 am |
Azhar was obviously in the mah-mood that day! But so many players tend to do well when they leave their old clubs. Ramps is a case in point, not that he was doing badly before. The Az was always going to shine at Kent, and the moment I heard he was going their I had, to quote Luke Skywalker, “a bad feeling about this…”
Well done to Butch though! I can’t imagine the Surrey changing room was a nice place to be after the game finished!
May 20, 2008 at 11:25 am |
Miah, I thought so long about a pun for the post title and you come out with one right there.
Yes, I expect Butch would have been “Guys! I set it all up for you! what the hell? All you had to do was NOT IMPLODE” and the others would have been looking to the floor and mumbling “sorry chief. Really sorry”.
May 20, 2008 at 11:26 pm |
I think the problem really is that they opted for the extra bowler instead of Newman. In hindsight, given how many runs were scored off Dernbach and Hussain (both good on their day), they might as well have opted to play Newman. He’s usually good for 40 or 50 runs, and considering that Surrey lost by only 17 runs or thereabouts it was a calculated risk which backfired somewhat.
Not convinced about Jordan’s ability with a bat. People say he can but I haven’t seen it – well, not yet at any rate.
Leaving out Saqi and Pedro (or Jaqui and Mr Whippy, as my mum calls them) shows Surrey have their sights set on the championship above all else.
May 21, 2008 at 6:16 pm |
Miah, interesting point about the championship. I’m going to start doing some proper championship updates.
I like “Jaqui” for Saqui. That’s staying, so thanks to your mum.
May 21, 2008 at 9:27 pm |
Oh, we have a whole load of nonsensical names for the Surrey boys! ‘Hedgepig’ for John Batty on account of his spikey hair, ‘Fonzy’ for Jade Dernbach on account of his supposed hair product obsession, The ‘O-Man’ for James Ormond, ‘Sundance’ for Ramps (Ceci did a brilliant Butch ‘n Sundance pic which you might have seen), ‘Rodney’ for Neil Saker…
Mr Whippy was one of my mum’s better efforts. I was lamenting the fact one morning that every time I left the room to do something I would miss the fall of a wicket. Having retreated briefly to make some tea, I heard Mark Church loudly proclaiming from the PC upstairs that Pedro Collins had bowled somebody. I shouted “Oh, bother (well, it was a bit stronger than that) I’ve missed a wicket”, and my mum, whose hearing I’ve had reason to doubt lately, misinterpreted it as “Mr Whippy.” The name seems to have stuck. As does Jaqui/Saqi! :p
What can I say, I come from a long line of strange people. Ceci will back me up here!
May 22, 2008 at 9:35 am |
Miah, nicknames are a fabulous idea for a post. Drop me an e at Miriam@hushmail.com if you want in?