By Ben Horne
July 13 2003

Surrey suffered their first NCL defeat of the season as Warwickshire beat them by 6 wickets at Edgbaston today. Nick Knight scored 74 and Ian Bell struck 59 not out to guide the bears to a 6 wicket victory. Surrey suffered their first NCL defeat of the season as Warwickshire beat them by 6 wickets at Edgbaston today. Nick Knight scored 74 and Ian Bell struck 59 not out to guide the bears to a 6 wicket victory.

Surrey won the toss and decided to bat but soon they found themselves in trouble at 28 for 2 as Waqar Younis removed both openers. Firstly he bowled Butcher for a duck then he had danger man Brown caught by Knight for 20. Shortly after Waqar clamed his third wicket. This time he had Thorpe caught behind by Penny for just 7. Ramprakash and Ward then put on 43, but when Ward was stumped by Penny off Smith Surrey were in further trouble at 87 for 4. Ramprakash and Hollioake then added 47 to help Surrey reach 134 for 4. But then Holiokae was bowled by Obuya for a useful score of 25. Surrey were now 134 for 5. Ramprakash and new batsmen Mahmood then took the score to 150 but then Ramprakash was dismissed for 57 as Brown bowled him. Ramprakash had played another very important innings for Surrey. As usual he kept his head while wickets were falling at the other end. Mahmood (17) and Batty (28) helped Surrey reach 198 for 8. Bicknell and Salisbury then put on 44 to help Surrey reach a very respectable 242 for 9 off their 45 overs. Salisubury was removed last ball of the innings when he was caught by Troughton off Kenyan spinner Obuya, who clamed 3 wickets.

Azhar Mahmood then removed Wawickshire pinch hitter Neil Carter early on for 18 to leave the bears 20 for 1. Former England batsman Nick Night and Jonathan Trott then put on a massive partnership of 131 for the second wicket. Night made 74 and Trott made 51. But then Ian Salisbury removed both Knight and Trott and then Troughton for a duck to leave the bears 152 for 4. Ian Bell and bears captain Michael Powell then put on an unbeaten stand of 92 to guide the bears to a 6 wicket victory. Bell struck 59 not out while Powell scored 26 not out.

Surrey innings: Surrey won toss

Butcher lbw b Waqar Y 0
Brown c Knight b Waqar Y 20
Ramprakash b D Brown Y 57
Thorpe c Penny b Waqar Y 7
Ward st Penny b N Smith 21
Hollioake b C Obuya 25
Azhar M c Troughton b C Obuya 17
Batty b Waqar Y 28
Bicknell not out 14
Salisbury c Troughton b C Obuya 33

Extras 20

Total (for 9 wickets, 45 overs) 242

DND: J Ormond

Warwickshire innings:

Carter c A Brown b Azhar M 18
Knight c Thorpe b Salisbury 74
Trott c Azhar M b Salisbury 51
Bell not out 59
Troughton lbw b Bicknell 0
Powell not out 26

Extras 16

Total (for 4 wickets, 42.1 overs) 244

DNB: Penny, Brown, N Smith, C Obuya, Waqar Y

Result: Warwickshire won by 6 wickets