By Ben Horne
September 21 2003

Surrey slumped to a poor eight-wicket defeat to Essex in their final county championship game of the season. This result means that Surrey have failed to retain the county championship with Sussex winning the title for the first time. Surrey went in to the game with a second team. In the absence of Adam Hollioake Ian Salisbury was the captain. Surrey won the toss and decided to bat. They lost Scott Newman early but John Batty and Naddem Shahid put on 113 together. Shahid scored a quick fire 67 off just 55 balls. Batty looked on course to score a hundred but when on 87 he was bowled by Napier. This score rounded off an excellent season for the Surrey wicket keeper. Debutante Ben Scott then scored 58 not out to help Surrey reach a respectable score of 318 all out.

Just three balls in to the Essex innings and Phil Sampson removed Will Jefferson for a duck. Cook and Flower then put on a massive stand of 157. Cook looked on course for his maiden first class hundred but when he was on 84 he fell to another Surrey debutante Neil Saker. This gave Saker his first, first class wicket and it also handed Ben Scott his first, first class catch. However Cook had scored 84 off just 77 balls. Pettini then came to the crease and added 115 with Flower. Pettini fell for 70 off just 79 balls when he was caught by Newman with James Benning taking his wicket, on his debut. Bopara and Foster both chipped in with useful scores and at 429 for 5 Esssex looked on course for a massive score. Surrey then took the final 5 Essex wickets for just 65 runs, with Murtagh and Clarke both picking up two wickets. Although Essex collapsed Any Flower was unbeaten a suburb score of 201, which included 20 fours. Flower, who was captaining the Eagles, had been in since number three and he was able to take advantage of a second class Surrey bowling attack. He had given the young bowlers a lesson which they will never forget.

Mohammad Akram then ripped through the Surrey batting line up. He took the first eight wickets to leave the lions 138 for 8. However he did not claim the full ten as Napeir took the final two wickets. Five Surrey players had failed to score. Batty and Benning both scored 47 while Phil Sampson showed some residence at the end with 32 not out.

Essex only required 49 to win and reached this for the loose of tow wickets with Phil Sampson removing both openers.

Thi result means that Surrey finished a disappointing third place in the county championship.

Surrey 1st innings

Newman c Foster b Napier 9
Batty b Napier 87
Shahid c Pettini b Middlebrook 63
Clarke b Middlebrook 4
Brown c Bopara b Middlebrook 17
Benning hit wicket b Akram 18
Scott not out 58
Salisbury c Flower b Bopara 14
Murtagh c Napier b Akram 21
Sampson lbw b Middlebrook 3
Saker b Napier 1

Extras 19

Total (all out 81.3 overs) 318

Essex 1st innings

Jefferson c Brown b Sampson 0
Cook c Scott b Saker 84
Flower not out 201
Pettini c Newman b Benign 70
Bopara c Newman b Salisbury 31
Foster lbw b Clarke 36
Middlebrook c Scott b Clarke 3
Napier b Murtagh 1
Stevenson c Scott b Murtagh 1
Clarke c Scott b Clarke 8
Akram lbw b Sampson 0

Surrey end innings

Newman c Cook b Akram 0
Batty c Foster b Akram 47
Shahid c Cook b Akram 0
Clarke b Akram 17
Brown b Akram 0
Benning c Foster b Akram 47
Scott c Foster b Akram 5
Salisbury lbw b Napier 29
Murtagh b Akram 0
Sampson not out 32
Saker b Napier 0

Extras 16

Total (all out, 57.3 overs) 193

Essex 2end innings

Jefferson c Scott b Sampson 22
Cook c Scott b Sampson 18
Pettini not out 4
Bopara not out 2

Extras 3

Total (for 2 wickets, 9.1 overs)

Result = Essex won by eight wickets