Cricket: Surrey stay top of County Championship Division One

BY MARCUS HOOK

Surrey remain top of Division One in the County Championship following a runfest against Gloucestershire that yielded just 12 wickets before the west country weather put paid to the fourth and final day at Bristol, along with any chance of engineering a result.

Jamie Smith (234 not out) and Jordan Clark (137) took full advantage of a run-laden surface as the visitors racked up 603 – Surrey’s highest total away from the Oval since 2016.

But, for the South Londoners’ attack, the placid nature of the pitch proved just as dispiriting as Gloucestershire’s openers, Chris Dent (207 not out) and Marcus Harris (124) followed suit by posting the biggest partnership (296) for any wicket ever enjoyed by the Bristolians against Surrey.

The ball nipped around for the first hour and Surrey, after losing the toss, soon found themselves 37-3, but thereafter it was one-way traffic in terms of bat dominating ball.

Smith, who was not down to play initially due to a tight hamstring, came in for the injured Ben Foakes (back) and duly accepted the invitation to fill his boots by making a career best 234 that included 34 fours.

“Going into the second morning already a hundred not out, it is in the back of your mind to bat for as long as possible,” said the 21-year-old. “So, to take that opportunity and go big was very satisfying.

“To get my first double century was nice and another box ticked in my career. It was also great to see Jordan Clark get his first hundred for Surrey, because he has worked so hard on his batting. He always looks to take the game on so it is good fun batting with him.

“It was tough on day one. Gloucestershire bowled well throughout the whole day really. We rode our luck at times – there were some dropped catches and some close LBWs – but sometimes you get that luck and sometimes you don’t.”

Surrey’s head coach Gareth Batty was impressed by Smith’s appetite for runs, especially from someone still making their way in the game.

“Smithy batted very nicely and didn’t go up and down in his emotions as he was going through the landmarks,” said Batty. “He just kept batting and that’s a sign of somebody who’s going to score lots of runs.”

Surrey’s next opponents are Northants (5-8 May), who will travel to the Oval this Thursday with an unbeaten record following draws with Gloucestershire, Yorkshire and Essex.

PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD