Lions close in on title

By Ben Horne
September 7 2003

Surrey closed in on the national league title with a 5 wicket win over Kent at Canterbury. Adam Hollioake was voted man of the match with 6 wickets and 38 runs.

Surrey closed in on the national league title with a 5 wicket win over Kent at Canterbury. Adam Hollioake was voted man of the match with 6 wickets and 38 runs.

Kent won the toss and decided to bat but they were soon in trouble at 14 for 2 with debutante Franklin Rose and Azhar Mahmood taking the wickets. Walker and Symonds then took the score to 52 but then Walker was bowled by Clarke for 19. Fulton was next to go for 19 when he was caught behind off the bowling of Hollioake. Just one run later and Symonds was out for an excellent 53. Kent were 110 for 5. Jones then fell for 12 when he was caught by Shahid off Hollioake. The Kent batting order then collapsed to Adam Hollioake. From 124 for 6 they were bowled out for 142 off just 31.4 overs. Only five players managed to reach double figures.

Kent then reduced Surrey to 22 for 2 with Ward and Brown departing cheaply. Ramprakash and Shahid then took the score to 48 but then Shahid fell for 19 when he was caught behind by Jones off Symonds. Rikki Clarke then fell cheaply and the lions were in trouble at 78 for 4. Ramprakash and Hollioake then put on 60 to guide the lions to victory. Hollioake scored 38 off 51 balls, which gave him man of the match. Mark Rampraskash remained unbeaten on a solid score of 41. Ramprakash had held the innings together for the lions once again. Azhar Mahmood was the other not out batsmen as Surrey reached there target with 8 overs remaining.




Kent innings: Kent won toss:

Carberry c Batty b Azhar M 6
Key c Ramprakash b Rose 5
Symonds lbw b Hollioake 53
Walker b Clarke 19
Fulton c Batty b Hollioake 19
Jones c Shahid b Hollioake 12
Ealham lbw b Hollioake 6
Tredwell b Ormond 0
Khan lbw b Hollioake 0
Saggers b Hollioake 0
Muralitharan not out 11

Extras 11

Total (all out 31.4 overs) 142

Surrey innings:

Ward run out 1
Brown b Saggers 10
Ramprakash not out 42
Shahid c Jones b Symonds 19
Clarke st Jones b Muralitharan 14
Hollioake c Saggers b Khan 38
Azhar M not out 4

Extras 15

Total 143