Surrey vs Leicestershire LV=County Championship

First topic message reminder :

SURREY HAVE NAMED A TWELVE MAN SQUAD FOR THE LV=COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH AGAINST LEICESTERSHIRE STARTING AT THE KIA OVAL ON SUNDAY.
Chris Tremlett is named in the squad for the first time this season having recovered from the hamstring strain which saw him miss the first two Championship games.
Jade Dernbach is unavailable for selection due to the side injury he sustained against Essex which will keep him out of action for a period of time.
The Surrey squad to play Essex at the Kia Oval in the LV=County Championship on Sunday May 10th, Monday May 11th, Tuesday May 12th and Wednesday May 13th:
Gareth Batty (capt)
Zafar Ansari
Rory Burns
Tom Curran
Steven Davies
Matthew Dunn
Stuart Meaker
Kevin Pietersen
Jason Roy
Kumar Sangakkara
Chris Tremlett
Gary Wilson
meaker or curran toss of a coin?

8x6

50 partnership with Clive, who has so far kept out 17 balls for his single.

9x6

Clive has scored 1 in this last wicket partnership of 70.  

KP reaches 300.

Pietersen reaches 300 with a 6!. Pity I can't watch this!.

This is utterly ridiculous

KP 13 x 6

This guy isn't in the England team why?

100 partnership.  That's century partnerships for both 9th and 10th wicket... Wonder how many times Surrey have done that before!

100 partnership and Clive only has 5

Will be an interesting first media interaction for England's new director/PR Manager/whatever!.

14x6

Will Alastair Cook, Andrew Strauss and all other clowns at the ECB continue to do disservice to the game?

Maiden.  Clive batting for tomorrow.

last over of the day keep it out

stumps 528 for 9 kp 326*

KP scored 290 today. Cracking support from Tremlett and Clive to help KP add over 200 runs for the last two wickets.

Did Guildford go today? If not he picked the wrong day to go....

jimbobgooner wrote:tremlett again 292 all out now our turn 600+ would be handy

Well on target for that

Olly wrote:Did Guildford go today? If not he picked the wrong day to go....

Same old greedy Kevin scoring all the runs again and not letting the rest of the team have a turn!

Seriously impressive. No doubt he'll get hit with "it's only Div 2 bowling" but even so the numbers today beggar belief. Nearly 300 in a day and a 10th wicket century partnership with the last man scoring only 5.

Superb.

That's Entertainment!

About 40 minutes into today's play, I suggested:

"Ok, so with two quick wickets lost early on Day 2, now's the time for one (preferably both) of the batsmen now at the crease [KP, LeRoy] to prove their England aspirations are well founded. They have time, a decent surface and - with the greatest respect to Leics - are facing the kind of attack against which players aiming for the highest level should hope to build an innings."

Sounds like one of them was thinking along the same lines.

But the new PR manager is seemingly set to meet Pietersen today and tell him he won't ever be picked.
What a disaster that would be for Strauss in his new role for a start!. If this report is true, I hope that would only be the first of many more disaster waiting him.......

Olly wrote:Did Guildford go today? If not he picked the wrong day to go....

Yes, I did! Unlike the friend I was going with who had to drop out to receive a furniture delivery!!!

Feel hugely privileged. More later.

If Strauss announces there's no place for KP in future England squads - even if he should be there on merit - then I am done with this England team until Cook, Strauss and every last player has retired. And I'm an Essex fan. KP is the best batsman we've had in the last 50 years and he should be in that side, ahead of Bell.

A truly outstanding innings from Kevin Pietersen. Like everyone at the Oval, I felt hugely privileged to witness it.

In some respects, it was more like three innings. Firstly, patience and application in the morning session as he reached his hundred just before lunch. Surrey were already 5 down by that stage as Pietersen saw Sanga, Davies and Roy trudge back to the hutch. His determination to reach three figures may have been as much for Strauss as Surrey but it was there for all to see.

Following his careful century, dominance came to the fore as he drove powerfully and exquisitely in bringing up a second century. Thereafter, carnage ensued for the Leics bowlers as Pietersen blitzed his way to a triple century in next to no further time. There was a shortish boundary (on the school side) but he didn't significantly cash in on that, happy to send his shots to all areas. By the end of the day, it was almost as if he was acknowledging the cheers of the Surrey members by spraying sixes in the direction of the pavilion.

Boy, did the members and everyone (even a few Leics supporters) love it! Not only were Pietersen's shots applauded but also all the dot balls that number 11 'Clive' Dunn played out to give the strike back to the maestro. Both Dunn and before him Tremlett batted well and played the situation even better. Since Tremlett came to the increase at the fall of the 8th wicket, Surrey - largely in the form of Pietersen - have added over 200 runs.

I saw a comment from earlier in the day that it was 'only Leics'. Maybe so but that still doesn't do justice to the destructive force of the innings or, in fact, how well Leics bowled in at least the first two sessions. By the third, they simply had no answer. However. they ensured no other Surrey player got past 36 and generally applied pressure on a track that was starting to suggest a bit of turn and did enough to keep the seamers interested. McKay looked the most troublesome but even he had no answer late on. Mind you, Leics could have caught better - one or two boundary steeplers missed whilst Cosgrove went down at slip like a fallen giant oak to grab a nick only for the ball to be half way to the boundary by the time he hit the deck!

Pietersen may be a humungous pain in the arse but he is also a humungous talent. If Strauss is to have a positive impact in his new role, he should be endeavouring to reduce the former and utilise the latter.

Already up to 354*, partnership of 138* now, Dunn still with just 5 of those

Dunn out for 5, KP left stranded on 355*. Guy needs to buy KP 355 beers tonight.

Matt Dunn batted with great sense and restraint last night. Whilst only a member of the back row chorus in the current Pietersen show, our 'Clive' deserves a lot of credit.

Aye, although ten more dot balls faced was probably another 30-40 runs for KP

Highest country innings since Lara's 501. Astonishing achievement.

Pietersen repaying Surrey for the support that they gave in tough time with an innings of a life time. England losers, the cosy club of mediocrity may not want, but when this is all dun and dusted, coming generations will remember Kevin Pietersen a lot more than any of those lying clowns.

Back to the match - 194-3 - just got the third. Now we need to take some more quickly.

kingdaveeagle wrote:Back to the match - 194-3 - just got the third. Now we need to take some more quickly.

Spot on. KingDave! We mustn't overlook that we have a game to win.

Leics now lead by 6 runs but have 5 back in the hutch. 3 wickets for Zaf. Another 2 or 3 today would be more than handy.

Tremlett has only bowled 7 overs in Leics second innings (86 overs). Wonder whether he is injured again.

Corporalhumblebucket wrote:Tremlett has only bowled 7 overs in Leics second innings (86 overs). Wonder whether he is injured again.

Corporal - I was just wondering that. Doubt the club's own report will say one way or the other.

Shame we couldn't get more than 5 wickets before stumps but surely we have sufficient time and a big enough advantage to win tomorrow. Major issues if not! There again, probably best for you not to issue invitations for celebration drinks in the officers' meal just yet!

A mighty important first session.

Meanwhile, maybe something interesting at lunchtime.

Grab these last four wickets, send KP out to score the winning runs.

Not listened to the commentary but looks as though Surrey struggling badly to take wickets.  Tremlett must be injured again if he has still only bowled 7 overs and didn't have a turn with the new ball either last night or this morning.

Finally Curran breaks the latest partnership - but still three more wickets needed.

Hi Corporal - it's mentioned on the wallpaper site about Tremlett being injured (again) although no details. Apparently, bowling coach Stuart Barnes had to field as a sub y'day!

Looking as if this game will go to the wire.

Ansari eventually takes 8th wicket, to give him five in this innings The Leics lead is up to 153.

afternoon all

Afternoon, JimBob. We're in danger of going hungry and thirsty tonight if we were planning to sink a few pints and scoff bags of cheesy wotsits with the Corporal in the mess!

Anyway, I'm sure KingDave will be appearing here soon with a cheery word to keep us going ....

Leics have already batted for 150 overs in the second innings. Am I surprised?

Corporalhumblebucket wrote:Leics have already batted for 150 overs in the second innings.  Am I surprised?

guildfordbat wrote:Afternoon, JimBob. We're in danger of going hungry and thirsty tonight if we were planning to sink a few pints and scoff bags of cheesy wotsits with the Corporal in the mess!

Anyway, I'm sure KingDave will be appearing here soon with a cheery word to keep us going ....

guildfordbat wrote:Afternoon, JimBob. We're in danger of going hungry and thirsty tonight if we were planning to sink a few pints and scoff bags of cheesy wotsits with the Corporal in the mess!

Anyway, I'm sure KingDave will be appearing here soon with a cheery word to keep us going ....

That's what I'm here for! 463-8. Inevitable draw now. Even without Sick-note this is awful by Surrey again. Don't really need to mention the lack of bowling strength again do we? Promotion really is a pipe-dream.

We'll never take 20 wickets to win a match, we all know that