| LV= County Championship Division One, Ageas Bowl (day three) |
| Hampshire 219: Brown 78; Lawes 5-27 & 172: Vince 56; Jacks 5-87 |
| Surrey 207: Sudharsan 73; Dawson 5-44 & 112-6: Sudharsan 31*; Prest 2-32 |
| Surrey (3 pts) want an extra 73 runs to beat Hampshire (3 pts) |
| Match scorecard |
Surrey have gained the County Championship for a second successive season.
Having gone into this week’s closing spherical of matches main second-placed Essex by 20 factors, Surrey knew they might get the job carried out with 5 factors from their recreation with Hampshire.
They acquired three bowling bonus factors however no batting factors after being bowled out for 207, earlier than their twenty first title triumph was secured as Essex additionally failed to choose up any batting factors from their recreation with Northamptonshire.
Essex had been all out for 211 at Wantage Highway, Tom Taylor taking the wicket of Jamie Porter that confirmed Surrey as champions shortly earlier than lunch on day three.
Essex then collapsed to 119 all out after being requested to follow-on, to lose by an innings and 39 runs.
As as to whether Surrey can add to their eight wins this season by beating Hampshire to say a ninth, that hangs within the stability.
On a day when 16 wickets fell at Southampton, Surrey spinners Will Jacks (5-87) and Cameron Metal (4-40) bowled out Hampshire for 172.
Each England off-spinner Jacks and leg-spinner Metal claimed private bests within the Championship.
That set the brand new champions 185 to win, however wickets continued to fall often for the hosts, for England sluggish left-armer Dawson and off-spinner Tom Prest, who claimed two scalps every.
Surrey closed on 112-6, nonetheless needing a difficult 73 to say that ninth win of the season, with first-innings half-centurion Sai Sudharsan on 31 and Jordan Clark on 4.
First back-to again winners in eight years
Having misplaced simply as soon as of their 13 video games thus far, at residence to Lancashire in June, Surrey develop into the primary aspect to retain the county title since Yorkshire, who gained again to again in 2014 and 2015.
Yorkshire stay the aspect with probably the most county titles (33) because the competitors started in 1890, however Surrey’s 21 titles – together with the joint title victory with Lancashire in 1950 – places them a snug second.
Excepting the Covid-hit seasons of 2020 and 2021, it’s also successfully Surrey’s third Championship title win out of the final 4, having additionally gained it in 2018.
And, having additionally gained it again in each 2000 and 2002, it offers them their fifth title triumph since two-division cricket started 23 years in the past, taking them additional away from Sussex, Yorkshire and Durham – who’ve three every.
‘Surrey needs to be pleased with their efforts’
Mark Church, BBC Radio London’s Surrey commentator
So Surrey retain their title and they’re worthy champions.
A second successive triumph that has been constructed round a stable squad, a tempo assault of bowlers who complement one another and may take 20 wickets, and a batting line-up that goes all the best way to quantity 11.
They’ve performed some improbable cricket this season.
Seven of their eight victories have come after they have needed to bat final and chase down a complete.
Three Championship titles since 2018 is a effective achievement and back-to-back wins is particular.
They completely deserve the Championship this season and needs to be extraordinarily pleased with their efforts.
And particularly head coach Gareth Batty too. A yr in the past, after they gained it, his title was nonetheless truly ‘performing interim coach’ and it was stated on the time that profitable the title in 2022 will need to have been the very best ‘job interview’ ever.
Surrey director of cricket Alec Stewart:
“We confirmed in 2018, after we gained it, that come 2019 we did not go about defending it in addition to we might or ought to have carried out. And, again in March I used the time period, ‘we need to assault this yr not defend it’.
“My dad [Surrey great Mickey Stewart] nonetheless goes on about being a part of the crew that gained it seven instances on the trot. We now have now gained it back-to-back. And including Dan Lawrence for subsequent yr offers us one other top-class-player and provides us extra urge for food to win it once more.
“We nonetheless have not gained the T20, so there are nonetheless loads of challenges forward. It is not a case of getting two trophies within the financial institution and that is it. If we try this then we’ll be in massive hassle.
“Rory Burns is excellent. Tactically he is superb. He is an efficient chief. He’s a person of few phrases. Within the dressing room when he speaks you hear. He leads by instance.”
Surrey captain Rory Burns:
“It feels fairly particular. We got down to go back-to-back and the best way we’ve carried out that may be very pleasing. However Essex have pushed us all the best way.
“We discovered a couple of classes from 2018. The way in which we’ve performed our cricket this yr has been actually optimistic. How we’ve taken video games on and seized the initiative in massive moments. We did not need to defend it his season, we needed to assault it.
“All three titles had been fairly good. You got down to win it and also you win it. Not many groups go back-to-back so that may be a feather in our cap and a very pleasing aspect.”
Surrey all-rounder Will Jacks:
“After I heard these cheers, I did not know what to do. I seemed round at everybody. Ben Foakes was clapping however everybody was nonetheless in the identical spot – I did not know if we’d come collectively and have a high-five and huddle. I simply did a bit clap and seemed round and acquired on with it.
“I bowled a pie and the following few overs had been horrible. I did not know what to do. We had a bit celebration with everybody after we got here off for unhealthy mild after which refocused and the day’s gone okay since.
“I have never bowled plenty of overs, possibly the least out of the crew. We play on quick inexperienced wickets so it’s what it’s. However it’s a pitch which spun and I’ve had a chance to have an extended spell.”
Surrey assistant coach Jade Dernbach instructed BBC Radio 5 Dwell:
“It is a surreal feeling by way of the way it’s all come about. We have performed effectively all yr however the boys are actually involved with ending the season with a win. That’s their steely mentality.
“We had been attempting very exhausting to not look. We thought it was vital that the fellows stayed targeted on the sport we’re in. However it was very tough to avoid as there have been plenty of travelling followers right here and so they had been letting us know what was occurring at each alternative. And we actually knew when that closing Essex wicket went down.
“With any Surrey crew there may be at all times an quantity of duty and stress that comes with being on the greatest county within the nation. We knew that, having gained the title final yr, there could be groups sizzling on our heels attempting to chase us. It wasn’t a case of simply defending the title, it was a case of retaining it – and we at all times had that optimistic mindset.”
Hampshire all-rounder Tom Prest:
“We did fairly effectively to take six wickets ultimately. Hopefully we are able to get it carried out within the morning.
“Hopefully my off-spin can have extra of an influence. And Daws has been excellent once more this week. He does it rather well. He will get wickets or runs each recreation.
“The ball to get Rory Burns was one of many higher ones I will bowl. It was good to get that and get Ben Foakes as effectively quickly after.
“Bowling is one thing I am attempting to get higher at. If I can actually enhance my bowling it’s one other alternative to remain within the crew.”