Cricket: Much ado about Such

Henry Blofeld
Friday 14 May 1993 18:02 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Essex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 418

Surrey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .133-3

ALTHOUGH the weather was a threat for much of the time the second day's play here was a good advertisement for four-day cricket. Essex, who resumed at 317 for 6, were all out just before lunch and by the time rain intervened after tea Surrey still trailed by 285 with three men gone.

If this had been a three-day game Essex would either have declared first thing or gone all out for runs. As it was, they were able to continue without feeling that time was a problem and Derek Pringle, a member of England's Texaco Trophy squad, had the opportunity to play an innings at his own pace, a luxury seldom afforded a No 8 in three-day matches.

He made good use of the chance with a sound 50 while Peter Such, the favourite to fill the off-spinner's berth in the Test series, showed that he too has rather more than the most basic knowledge of batting. On- driving a no-ball from Joey Benjamin for six he became the first batsman to raise the total by eight runs with one stroke under the new regulations whereby a no-ball counts two and is added to any runs scored off the bat.

Surrey then made a competent enough start, but no sooner had they brought up the 50 than Darren Bicknell aimed to square cut Mark Ilott, failed to get over the ball and was caught by Salim Malik in the gully.

Alec Stewart played some nice shots off Such, whose line erred too much to leg when bowling at the left-handed Graham Thorpe. The best stroke came when Stewart on-drove Ilott for four but soon afterwards he hooked at the same bowler and was caught at fine leg.

Monte Lynch ran himself out at 109, pushing Foster to mid-on for Lloyd Tennant, fielding as substitute for John Stephenson, to throw down the wicket with an underarm return. Thorpe hit four good boundaries against Graham Gooch before the ever-darkening clouds had the last word.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in