By Ben Horne
May 24 2006

Surrey suffered their first defeat of the season as they were beaten by Worcestershire with just one ball reaming. Ben Smith hit 46 not out as the Surrey bowlers failed to keep the runs down.

Day Three

Worcestershire resumed on 55 for no wicket. Jacques and Moore took the score to 109, with Jacques the first wicket to fall for 61. Solanki was next to go for 16 as Doshi took his first of six wickets. Moore reached 75 when he was caught by Azhar Mahmood, who picked up five catches with Salisbury taking the wicket. Doshi took the next three wickets of Smith, Hick and Batty as Worcester reached 273 for 6. Davis and Ali took the who 314 for 6 at the close.

Day Four

Ali fell early on for 16, with Salisbury picking up his third victim. Doshi took the final two wickets, but Simon Davis hit 61 not out to boost Worcestershire’s total to 353 for 9 declared.

Both captain decided to make a game, so Worcestershire bowed part time bowlers to ensure Surrey could score quick runs. They did this with Rikki Clarke hitting 57 from 23 balls and Azhar Mahmood 40 from 15.

Worcestershire had a fine start to their innings start with opener’s Jacques and Moore taking the score 95 for no wicket from 8.4 overs. However a rain delay halted proceedings. When the players came back out Jacques and Moore continued to dominate the Surrey bowling attack and took the score to 171. Moore was the first man out as he was run out for 52. Jacques was next to go for 109 from just 69 balls. Doshi picked up from where he left of in the first innings and took three wickets to swing the control back in Surrey’s favour as Worcestershire were left 252 for 6.

Ben Smith kept his head and hit a rapid 46 from 34 balls. However with six required to win from two balls, former Surrey bowler Zaheer Khan came to the crease, with Worcestershire eight wickets down, to face Doshi. A tense finish was in stall. However Khan hit a six of his first ball to guide Worcestershire to an astonishing victory.

Doshi ended the match with 10 wickets but his efforts were in vain as he the other bowlers cold not back him up.

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