Surrey 123 for five (Patel 41, Burns 39*) path Hampshire 151 (Gubbins 45, Clark 3-29, Atkinson 3-40, Worrall 3-44) by 28 runs
Patel, coming in to affix Burns with Surrey stuttering at 44 for 4, unfurled some regal strokes in his 41 from 94 balls whereas opener Burns dropped anchor in nuggety vogue in opposition to the transferring ball to succeed in an unbeaten 39 in nearly three and a half hours’ batting. Collectively they placed on 75 in 25 overs earlier than Patel was bowled by one from Mohammad Abbas that saved wickedly low.
Hampshire, who completed third final season, have been one in every of Surrey’s closest challengers as they’ve received successive titles previously two years, however they’ve nonetheless struggled on this floor in current occasions. After being put in, Hampshire would little doubt have been considering of the three heavy defeats they’ve suffered beforehand on the Oval in April in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Kyle Abbott plucked Dom Sibley’s off stump out of the bottom within the second over of Surrey’s reply, the previous England Check opener going for 4, and James Fuller then compelled Ollie Pope to play on for 13 as he tried to withdraw his bat from an outswinger.
Jamie Smith, holding wicket on this recreation with Ben Foakes rested on England administration orders, was bowled on the stroke of tea for 13 by one other magnificence, this time from Brad Wheal, and Abbott returned after the interval to have Dan Lawrence leg-before for two with a ball that formed again into his pads.
At first of the day, Surrey’s first wicket took solely eight balls to reach, Fletcha Middleton edging Worrall to second slip instantly after nicking the bowler’s first supply of the match by the cordon for 4, and for some time Ali Orr took the struggle again to the champions with some beautiful strokes in opposition to the brand new ball.
On 26, nevertheless, Orr flicked Clark’s third ball to sq. leg and shortly Hampshire’s innings was in disarray as Worrall dismissed James Vince and Tom Prest with successive balls within the final over of an excellent seven-over opening spell of three for 21.
Vince, undone by a leg-cutter that was pitched just a bit bit shorter than the earlier two deliveries that he had met with the center of his bat, edged to second slip on 5 whereas Prest was caught at third slip as he pushed defensively at an ideal out-swinger.
Liam Dawson calmly punched Worrall’s hat-trick ball by mid on for 2 however on 3 he was overwhelmed by Atkinson’s tempo and bounce and edged to first slip.
Clark then stunned Ben Brown with some further bounce, as he continued an eventual eight-over spell from the Pavilion Finish, and the Hampshire keeper’s tried pull merely resulted in a spliced simple return catch.
On 91 for six on the interval, Hampshire have been comfortable to see Gubbins and Fuller regular the ship till the previous was bowled for 45 by a high quality inswinger from Kemar Roach, working from across the wicket to the left-hander.
Then, eight runs later, Fuller was gone too for a punchy 39 from 55 balls when he uppercut Atkinson to deep cowl the place Roach ran in ten yards to take a wonderful sprawling catch.
And, when Wheal edged Atkinson behind on 12 and Abbott mishit Clark to Roach at lengthy on, Hampshire had been bowled out in 44.4 overs.
Matt Curler is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @mroller98
