Dan Worrall the picks of Surrey CCC’s performers as they enjoy eight-point lead at top of County Championship

Surrey now enjoy an eight-point lead at the top of County Championship Division One, after polishing off Northants by an innings and five runs with a day to spare at the Oval last weekend.

Skipper Rory Burns set the tone with his first hundred of the season and Surrey’s battery of seamers completed the job by dismissing Northants for 194 and 202.

New signing Dan Worrall was arguably the pick with figures of 2-32 and 3-37.

“It was an excellent first win for me and it just shows how much of a team we are that we had a lot of performers,” said the 30-year-old Australian.

“Wickets shared around by the bowlers and a couple of lower order hitters got the job done for us when we needed it.”

Worrall was referring to the 124-run stand in 24 overs for the ninth wicket, between Gus Atkinson (66 not out) and Jamie Overton (59), which put the Oval outfit firmly in the driving seat on the second morning.

Worrall added: “The guys bowled so well.  We each had our roles and we executed them perfectly.

“I’m not going to lie, it was demoralising bowling after Jamie Overton when he’s getting it through at 90 miles an hour and I’m barely getting it to beat the edge. But it’s a great attack to be part of and I’m sure there will be plenty of good days ahead.”

Surrey announced last July that they had signed Worrall on a three-year contract.

The 30-year-old, from Melbourne, holds a UK passport and is not classed as an overseas player.

“I’m fresh and I’m excited,” he said. “I’m here to help the guys around me get better and use the experience we have in the dressing room to get better myself. So, hopefully, there’s a few trophies on the horizon over the next couple of years.

“It’s a great club to be a part of. Everybody’s been really accommodating for myself and my family and what a place to play – the Oval. I’m not sure it gets more bigger than that and it was great to see the crowd out for a home win.

“I’m sure there will be plenty more throughout the summer where we can put on a show.”

Surrey’s head coach Gareth Batty said: “We were very good all round in this game, starting with getting 401 after being put in to bat on the first morning.

“The captain led from the front, as he always does, and his hundred was backed up by another good innings from Sam Curran – who played a beautiful hand as a batter.

“He’s getting really good runs for us. Then, that century stand for the ninth wicket between Jamie Overton and Gus Atkinson, which was icing on the cake and put Northants on the back foot.

“With the ball, we are looking very good this season with lots of options out there. Dan Worrall was brilliant in his first home game. He bowled well without any reward at Gloucestershire.

“He’ll take plenty of wickets this season if he keeps bowling like he did in this match. He was fantastic. But as a bowling group they’re strong and they are pushing each other. I’m very pleased with them and how hard they are working.

“It’s a very long season, as I’ve said before, but we have started very well and we’ve also managed to give rests to a couple of our quicker bowlers, to try to keep them fresh.

“We’ve also dealt well with other players getting injured or not being available. So, I’m very pleased with where we are after five rounds and long may it continue.”

KENT v SURREY (probable line-ups)

Surrey:
Burns (capt), Patel, Amla, Pope, Foakes (wk), Jacks, S Curran, de Grandhomme, Clark, Atkinson, Worrall.

Kent:
Compton, Crawley, Bell-Drummond, Leaning (capt), Cox, Robinson (wk), Linde, Stewart, Qadri, Gilchrist, Quinn.

KEY PLAYERS
Dan Worrall (Surrey) – the visitors will be hoping Worrall can follow-up his impressive display with the ball against Northants.

Ben Compton (Kent) – with the Spitfires’ bowling attack struggling for wickets, runs on the board will be important and Compton, averaging 93.33 this season, has really grabbed the headlines this season following his move from Notts.

FORM GUIDE
Kent are propping up Division One after heavy defeats at the hands of Lancashire and Hampshire, plus a draw at Leeds, where they were saved by the light, which put paid to proceedings with Yorkshire needing 114 in 21 overs. Surrey, who have played one game more, remain top, but only by eight points following Hampshire’s 87-run victory over Gloucestershire last weekend.

STAT
Surrey’s five matches this summer have only produced 15 LBWs (six for and nine against), which have accounted for just 11.8 per cent of all dismissals – by far the lowest percentage since 2000. In each of the last 12 seasons, LBWs have accounted for at least 20 per cent of dismissals in first-class matches involving the Oval outfit.

STAR MAN
Dan Worrall – one of three Surrey bowlers to take five wickets in the Northants game, except his came at 13.80 runs apiece, with an economy rate of just 2.16 an over.

BEST MOMENT
Jamie Overton launching Northants’ slow left-armer Simon Kerrigan back over the bowler’s head for three sixes in the space of 11 balls.

NEXT FIXTURE
May 12-15: Kent v Surrey at Beckenham (County Championship)