Surrey skipper Rory Burns loved his side’s response against Middlesex

BY MARCUS HOOK

Surrey captain Rory Burns has expressed delight at the way his side turned around an indifferent start against Middlesex to return to the top of Division One in the County Championship.

Surrey’s nine-wicket home win at the weekend added to the same margin of victory over nearest challengers Warwickshire at the end of April.

“We played some really good cricket over the four days and it’s nice to be back at the top of the championship table,” said Burns, whose 88 laid the foundations for bragging rights over their north London rivals.

“Our bowlers did a great job in this game, after that first session or so, and Jamie Smith played a superb knock to help us get a sizeable first innings lead.

“We probably didn’t start our best, but to come back the way we did was very pleasing. Winning the toss and looking to have a bowl, that’s probably not how we wanted to go about it. I wasn’t best pleased when watching the highlights over breakfast the next day. But the honesty and the recognition that we hadn’t got it quite right, accepting it and then doing something about it was what made it impressive.

“Both Smithy and Gus Atkinson, with the ball, showed again what fine young cricketers they are and, overall, it was an excellent team performance to get the win.”

Crucially Atkinson backed up his eight wickets the week before with the scalps of Sam Robson (76) and Pieter Malan (66), who had threatened to invalidate Surrey’s decision to bowl first.

The departure of Robson sparked a collapse from 166-1 to 209 all out, with Dan Worrall taking 5-48.

“Gus has been champing at the bit to get going really,” said Burns. “He bowls quick and hits a hard length. So, it was brilliant to also see him go well in this game.

“I was hoping the experienced lads would get it right, but then Gus came on and did what he does.

“He’s played a fair amount of white-ball cricket and that skills set played into how he bowled. There was some assistance there. The less he does and the harder the length he bowls the better he is. The way Smithy built his innings and the positivity he showed was very pleasing. It was disappointing to see him not get a hundred. He deserved one, but the way he played for his 97 was brilliant.”

Abbott (48) and Worrall (32) also dipped their bread late on as the hosts amassed 380.

Asked whether Warwickshire’s victory over Essex inside three days, to go top of Division One temporarily, had fired Surrey up, Burns said: “A few of the boys look at the table, but I don’t tend to too much.

“Middlesex showed they were here for the fight. They played well Saturday evening, even though we bowled well, but getting there on Sunday we wanted to put our foot on the throat a little bit and really force it home.

“If we keep going about it the way we are and keep building pressure over four days I think we’ll be in a decent spot.”