Marcus Hook’s Surrey CCC column: Brilliant Sibley is key to denying Hampshire – Hollioake making impact at Kent

Had it not been for Dom Sibley’s unbeaten hundred in the South Londoners’ first innings last Friday, Hampshire might well have gone on to make it two wins out of two to open their season’s account.

As it was, Surrey earned themselves a slender lead of 34 at the halfway stage before posting 342-9 declared thanks to half-centuries from Ollie Pope (65) and Jamie Smith (84) complementing another ton from Sibley.

But a game that had ebbed and flowed throughout was robbed of a thrilling climax when Hampshire, needing 78 off 10 overs, returned to the field after bad light wanting 78 off six.

Sibley is now second only to Geoff Boycott in terms of those who have carried their bat through an innings in post-war County Championship games. Sibley has done so six times to Boycott’s eight for Yorkshire, between 1968 and 1985.

The 29-year-old followed it up with 105 to become the first Surrey batter to hit back-to-back tons in the same match since Kumar Sangakkara’s 114 and 120 against Middlesex at Lord’s in 2017.

Sibley, who moved to Warwickshire at the end of that season before returning in 2023, said: “I was actually playing in that game when Kumar was the last Surrey player to score two hundreds in a match, so it is very nice to put my name alongside his.

“His was probably a better watch than mine! But, seriously, I am really pleased with how it’s going.

“I felt good in the second innings of our opening game, at Essex last week, and it was nice to carry on that good form here.”

You would have got healthy pre-season odds on Notts, Sussex and Warwickshire sharing top billing in Division One of the County Championship.

Similarly, in Division Two, who could have possibly foreseen Kent making it two wins out of two after being relegated at the end of last summer?

Former Surrey skipper Adam Hollioake has taken over as their head coach.

His fresh perspective and ultra-positive attitude certainly seems to be paying dividends down in Canterbury.

Holliake led the Oval outfit to a combined eight titles between 1996 and 2003.

As a player, he was one of those who never knew he was beaten.

His late brother Ben oozed natural talent but Smokey (who acquired his nickname due to his likeness, in the boxing ring, to Smokin’ Joe Frazier) was grit and determination personified.

Adam also had, and no doubt still does, a mischievous sense of humour. When he was England’s one-day captain, he would get whichever player was being put up for interview after the match to make obscure references to things like rhinoceroses.

But Adam and, indeed, the whole Surrey faithful, are currently in mourning following the death of Lynn Stewart, Alec’s wife, following a 12-year battle with cancer.

I would like to extend my own condolences to Alec and the family at what must be an incredibly difficult time.

PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD