Lions win in thriller

By Ben Horne
June 30 2005

Azhar Mahmood hit 28 not out as he led Surrey to 5 wicket victory as Surrey moved clear at the top of the table. Needing 14 of the final over, Mahmood hit a six and two fours to see the lions home. earlier Sussex made 139 for 6 in a rain affected match at Hove.

Sussex won the toss and decided to bat. They got off to a good start as former Surrey opening batsmen Ian Ward and Matt Prior put on 43 for the opening stand. Ward was first to go for 13 as he was caught by Clarke with Azhar Mahmood taking the bowler. Prior and Adams took the score to 64 when Adams became Doshi first of three wickets as he was stumped by Batty for 12. Prior was next go to for a quick fire 51 and the sharks were left 85 for 3. Goodwin and Yardy added 32 to take the Sussex to 122 for 3. Goodwin then fell to Doshi for 38. Sussex reached 139 for 6, with Van der Wath and Hopkinson falling cheaply. However with 17 overs gone, rain prevented the reaming three from being bowled.

Further rain meant that the Surrey innings were set a target of 114 from 13 overs. The lions had a good start with Benning and Brown putting on 44 for the first wicket. Benning was first to go as he was bowled by Mushtaq Ahmed for 14. Brown and Clarke took the score to 70, before Brown fell to Luke Wright for 51 from just 28 balls. Clarke, Batty and Newman all fell cheaply to leave Surrey struggling at 82 for 5. Azhar Mahmood and Ian Salisbury led the Surrey recovery, but they still required 14 from the final over to win, which was bowled by occasional spinner Michael Yardy. Only three runs were scored of the first three balls. However Mahmood then hit a six and two fours to guide the lions to a four wicket victory, as he scored 28 not out from just 17 balls.

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