Worcestershire’s resilient efforts took their game against Surrey into the final hours of day four at Loughborough, but were not enough to prevent a 201 run-loss as the side finished an impressive season as runners up.
The culmination of the 2nd XI red ball season saw Worcestershire travel to Loughborough to take on Surrey earlier this week, with the Pears looking to end the campaign with some silverware.
In a much-changed side, skipper Henry Cullen won the toss and elected to bowl first, with Surrey’s opening pair frustrating the bowling attack adding 50 for the first wicket, before trialist Sam Greer produced a hooping away swinger that caught the edge of Thomas’ bat to see him caught behind for 27.
Ramon Bailey added impetus into the attack when he bowled Blake for 25, before Surrey’s batters took control and dominated the next couple hours of play, with a third wicket stand of 156 causing Worcestershire some headaches.
Fateh Singh, the pick of the bowlers during the first innings, returned excellent figures of 4-80 from his 22-over spell, including a double breakthrough in the 45th and 51st over to check Surrey’s progress at 236-4.
His third victim of the match saw him trap Dodson LBW with a straight delivery that beat the batter’s attempts to pull a ball through the leg-side.
Fellow spinner Tom Hinley (2-71) grabbed his two wickets in the shape of centurion Sykes, who was well caught at backward point by Ximus du Plooy, before enticing Taylor down the wicket with an inviting ball wide of off-stump, with Cullen duly taking the bails off to see Worcestershire take a seventh wicket.
Nathan Barnwell scuppered any chances of a quick finish to the innings from a Pears perspective, with the number eight counter attacking in stubborn style 80 from 105 balls to see Surrey beyond the 400 mark, with late wickets for Singh, Bailey and Greer eventually closing out a frustrating opening day for Worcestershire.
With day two washed out through rain, day three saw Worcestershire begin their response as openers Ed Pollock and Isaac Mohammed take to the middle.
Pollock (4) fell in the first over as he was caught behind, but returning England U19 star Isaac played with the fearless and positive intent Worcestershire fans have become accustomed too, playing some delightful shots through the offside on his way to a run a ball 65.
Alongside skipper Henry Cullen, the impressive youngster’s added 108 for the second wicket, as the Pears made big strides in the steep run chase.
Cullen’s excellent recent form continued as he made his way to 50 and beyond, but was caught behind on 58 after striking seven fours and four sixes in an enterprising cameo at number three.
Ximus du Plooy (13) and Isaac where then dismissed within four overs of one another as the run chase stalled, with highly rated Seth Essenhigh now joined by Alfie Higgins at the crease, looking to establish some control.
Essenhigh showed his promise, looking good value for is 24, before he was bowled to leave his side186-5 and adrift, but Tom Hinley’s introduction cued an eye-catching counter-attacking exhibition.
The pair added 51 for the sixth wicket, with Hinley flashing his blade in a punchy innings that briefly dragged momentum back in the favour of Worcestershire.
Against the clock on day three and with time in the game running out for either side to force a result, Higgins departed for a well-made 31, whilst Hinley put his foot down at the other end.
He passed fifty and kicked on into the 60’s, but with Fateh Singh (13) now out, hopes of making a dent in the Surrey target were fading.
The last three wickets fell for just 19 runs, as Hinley (62) was stumped, before Darley (27) and Greer (0) were dismissed to see Worcestershire bowled out for 315, a deficit of 122.
Two late wickets kept hopes of a victory alive, with Ramon Bailey trapping Blake LBW for 8, but resistant batting from Surrey’s top order saw them navigate their way past the three-figure mark, when Fateh Singh had Sykes caught for 40 in the 19th over of the reply as day three drew to a close with Surrey 245 runs in the ascendency.
Across a fast-moving final day, 19 wickets fell as Surrey flexed their muscles against a youthful Worcestershire team, who had to accommodate some changes on the day with several players travelling down to Nottingham in preparation for the Metro Bank One Day Cup final.
Adding 130 to their overnight score, Cullen’s side fought back well to take six further wickets, Tom Hinley starring with figures of 3-32 with some lower order scalps.
Greer and Bailey continued to impress, sharing three wickets between them before Surrey declared on 253-8, setting Worcestershire an unlikely 375 to win.
Isaac Mohammed’s promising red ball form continued as he made 36, in a stand of 72 with Seth Essenhigh for the second wicket, but Isaac’s dismissal increased the onus on the young keeper batter as the pillar of the run chase.
Essenhigh produced a classy knock, looking good for value for his 45 off 77 balls, stroking four boundaries, but as wickets continued to fall around him, the match began to fall away from Worcestershire.
When the number three was bowled, the score read 119-7, with the match result confirmed soon after as Surrey took the remaining wickets to wrap-up a 201-run victory.
In what has been an encouraging season for the 2nd XI, Head Coach Richard Jones says the opportunities provided to his younger playing contingent this campaign have allowed the side to challenge across all formats.
“I am very proud of the group for their efforts across the season, it has been challenging at times this week with personnel changes and the logistics of players moving around, but it has been a great year all told.
“The younger guys have stepped up from the academy and blooded themselves into the senior environment really well, whilst the guys returning from injury and the older heads in the group have been super professional.
“There have been some standout moments, so our challenge next year is to keep delivering those, keep progressing our cricket and crack on to see if we can go one better in four day cricket.”
