Surrey 292 for six (Pope 136, Clark 55, Patterson 4-52) vs Yorkshire
For the time being not less than. Just as cricketers go by the sport, so it’s they merely occupy the locations they name “home” throughout their careers. But a blissful 136 from 131 deliveries, a tenth top notch century at this well-known floor (fifteenth total) has put Surrey that little bit nearer to including Championship title quantity 21 to the mantlepiece, as they ended Tuesday on 292 for six whereas 85 miles away second-place Hampshire had already been skittled for 57 by Kent. The challengers have been 108 behind after the primary innings of the match which means they’ll solely take 19 factors from this spherical. Surrey, in the meantime, nonetheless have the total 24 up for grabs.
They say the worst factor you are able to do once you’re main is to look over your shoulder. But few begrudge those who do. And although Surrey got here in with an eight-level cushion , it was solely pure to forged just a few glances in direction of the Ageas Bowl. However, when Pope is in this sort of temper, all eyes are on him. This was as usually him as you can get: on the entrance foot from ball one when he superior all the way down to Steven Patterson, late cuts on faucet, and impish invention to get him from 90 to 100 with a ramp off Jordan Thompson for six, then a reverse sweep off Dom Bess’ first supply for 4.
Among the 18 boundaries was a palpable Big England Player power from one who has grown into a global function as a No. 3, even when he knew he’d be returning right here at No. 4 given Hashim Amla has a far better declare at first drop. He did not thoughts all that a lot.
A primary summer season beneath Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum has seen Pope assume better accountability, and with that was a transparent want to not shirk obligation as a returning England Test cricketer, particularly after notching a primary house century this summer season. He was one in all three for Surrey, alongside Ben Foakes and summer season debutant Jamie Overton, who was again after recovering from a foot harm sustained on July 27 in opposition to Warwickshire. Yorkshire, in contrast, had no actual perception they might have the ability to name upon Joe Root for the run-in.
The scenario at lunch was much more even, each right here and additional down south. At the time, Surrey have been 82 for 3, bruising slightly from the departure of opener Ryan Patel, whose dismissal introduced in regards to the finish of the opening session. Meanwhile, a confusingly beneath-power Kent batting card was 35 for five, reaffirming to the division leaders that they have been finest served specializing in what was inside their management.
Patel’s 41 was diligent, impressively unperturbed by the lack of his captain Rory Burns for a 13-ball duck after which Amla (14) round half an hour earlier than the interval. Like these two, a twitch exterior off stump caused a catch within the cordon. For Yorkshire and Ben Coad, who had his second, it tilted the stability again to equal after Jonny Tattersall had received the toss and chosen to bat first.
Perhaps the one time the dial shifted unquestionably of their favour got here with Patterson’s two dismissals in three deliveries. The first the extra vital with the returning Foakes snared low by Tattersal after skewing an edge between bat and pad. The second was nonetheless of notice given Cameron Steel’s diligent 48 within the first innings of final week’s draw at Wantage Road, however an pointless fish exterior off stump gave Tom Kohler-Cadmore a 3rd catch at first slip.
At 136 for five, there was a definite chance of issues going badly awry. But Pope and Clark’s stand was the type that each sped up the sport and reasserted a season’s price of dominance. Three figures between them got here up in simply 20.1 overs, at which level they appeared to make a aware effort to choose up the remaining batting bonus factors on their very own.
Both uppercut Yorkshire debutant Ben Mike over the cordon for sixes, thus prolonging what has been a protracted and costly await a Championship wicket. The 24-12 months-previous’s final – Nottinghamshire’s Liam Patterson-White on June 14 for former membership Leicestershire – has subsequently been adopted by 336 runs in 50.2 overs.
At the opposite finish of the management spectrum was Patterson, who managed to lastly get Pope over-balancing onto the off aspect to take out his leg stump, shifting him to 487 profession dismissals. The gasps across the floor mentioned all of it, as did the congratulatory pats from Yorkshire fielders.
An innings that didn’t seem like ending did simply that, its price underlined by the actual fact the opposite six of the seven batters to this point had solely managed 142 of the 278 between them. And maybe there’s a sense of remorse within the house dressing room that 350 might have been ticked off earlier than day two if Pope had remained. Nevertheless, Clark continued, enhancing the proportion of “the rest”, shifting to a 18th rating above fifty earlier than unhealthy mild at 4:46pm finally turned stumps.
By the time the umpires Alex Wharf and Russell Warren got here out for a cursory look 25 minutes later, Hampshire’s rating of 39 for 4, having dismissed Kent for 165, was greeted by a smattering of cheers. An addendum on the finish of this announcement introduced news of Hampshire shedding a fifth. The microphone was again in motion on to alert these nonetheless remaining of wickets six, seven, eight, 9 and 10 earlier than affirmation play was formally deserted. Even with their gamers within the altering room, Surrey have been marching on to glory.
Vithushan Ehantharajah is an affiliate editor at ESPNcricinfo
