By Ben Horne
June 15 2004

Surrey suffered another totesport league defeat, when Kent beat them by 5 wickets at the Brit Oval today. Surrey slipped to 143 for 7 but Nadeem Shaid hit 61 to help the lions reach 230 for 8. However this was not enough as Kent reached the target with 7 balls to spare.

Surrey v Kent, The Brit Oval, 13th of June 2004

Kent won the toss and decided to field. With the score on 31, Scott Newman dragged on an attempted to pull shot with Ben Trott the lucky bowler. Just 8 runs later and Ali Brown top edged a pull and was caught by Kent keeper Neil O’Brien, with Matt Dennington the bowler. Mark Ramprakash, Rikki Clarke and John Batty all fell in twenties as Surrey staggered to 143 for 7. Nadeem Shahid and Martin Bicknell then added 75 to help Surrey reach a respectable 230 for 8 from their 45 overs. Shahid remanded 61 not out, while Bicknell fell just before the close of the innings for 22.

Surrey then made early inroads to Kent by removing two key players. Danger man Robert Key fell to Azhar Mahmood with totesport league debutante Nayan Doshi taking the catch at mid on. The Aussie big hitter Andy Symonds was trapped leg before wicket to Bicknell. However Andy Louden and former Surrey player Michael Carberry then took the game away from Surrey by putting on 83. Louden fell for a quick fire 51 when he was bowled by Murtagh. His half-century included 46 runs in boundaries with 1 six and 10 fours and came off just 40 balls. Louden also managed to take 22 of a Rikki Clarke over. Michael Carberry also scored a half-century which included 8 fours. However Carberry could have been out earlier if Rikki Clarke had held on to a difficult chance. Matt Walker and Kent skipper David Fulton then added a magnificent 95 to lead the spitfires to victory. Walker remained 51 not out, while Fulton fell just before the end of the match for 48. This means that Surrey have now been defeated four times in the first division of the tote sport.

SURREY Innings (KENT WON THE TOSS):

Newman		b Trott	7
Brown	c O'Brien	b Dennington	21
Ramprakash		c and b Tredwell	32
Clarke		b Cusdon	20
Batty	c O'Brien	b Symonds	24
Hollioake	c Carberry	b Tredwell	8
Azhar Mahmood	c O'Brien	b Symonds	8
Shahid	Not out		61
Bicknell	c Tredwell	b Trott	22
Murtagh	Not out		1
Extras			29
Total	(for 8 wickets, 45 overs)		230

DNB: N Doshi

Kent Innings:

Carberry	lbw	b Hollioake	50
Key	c Doshi	b Azhar Mahmood	5
Symonds	lbw	b Bicknell	0
Louden		b Murtagh	51
Walker	Not out		21
Fulton	lbw	b Azhar Mahmood	48
Tredwell	Not out		12
Extras			17
Total	(all out, 43.5overs)		234

DNB: N O'Brien, N Dennington, S Cusdon, B Trott

Result: Kent win by 5 wickets

Points Kent Spitfires 4, Surrey Lions 0