By Ben Horne
June 13 2005

Surrey and Middlesex battled out a draw as Surrey were unable to bowl Middlesex out on the final day. Smith, Joyce, Styris and Scott all scored half centuries as Middlesex made 353 for 6 on the final day to stop any hopes of a Surrey victory.

Surrey bowled Middlesex out for 437 in their first innings, with Hutton, Darlymple, Pathan and former Surrey wicket keeper Ben Scott all making half centuries. The lions then made 460, with Ali Brown top scoring with 153 not out. Debutant Duncan Thornely scored 81 and was unlucky not to make a century as he was bowled by a ball that kept low from Styris. Richard Clinton was also in the runs as he continued his good form with 73, while John Batty made 345. However stand in captain Mark Ramprakash had to retire hurt when on 26. Alan Richardson was the top wicket taker for the ‘sex as he clamed 6 for 106.

With one day left, Surrey had to bowl Middlesex out for a low score. They got the perfect start as Ormond had Hutton caught by Brown for just 10. Shah was next to go as he was caught behind with Thornely claiming his fist championship wicket. However Smith and Joyce then added 100 for the third wicket. Joyce fell for 60 to Harbhajan Singh, while Smith scored 88 before becoming Thornely’s second victim, which was again caught by Batty. Surrey took to further wickets, with Darlymple falling to Bicknell for 15 and Styris making 55 before he was caught by Thornely with Ormond the bowler. Paul Weeks made 28 not out, while Ben Scott made his second unbeaten half century of the match with 61 not out.

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