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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Tanya Aldred at the Kia Oval

Essex beat Surrey by one wicket to head off world record attempt – as it happened

Jade Dernbach of Surrey celebrates with the County Championship Division One Cup.
Jade Dernbach of Surrey celebrates with the County Championship Division One Cup. Photograph: Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images

Tanya Aldred's report from the Oval

What thrills! What spectacle! On the last day of the season, there was only one match still standing – between the new champions and the old at the Kia Oval – one last hurrah before the nights grow long and the grass shrivels back to its winter rest.

And it had it all, won by Essex with a brushed four, with only one wicket left. Skill, high tension and occasional farce was punctuated at the end by an air of mystery when the ECB chairman, Colin Graves, failed to present the Championship trophy, despite being in the county chairmen’s meeting just the other side of the ground. The meeting, said the ECB, took precedence, which was a shame, as it was a day to publicly celebrate all that was good about the game.

With free entry Surrey started their advance on what would have been a record-breaking win, adding 64 to their overnight score, to finish a mere 474 runs more than their disastrous first innings. Rikki Clarke notched up a quick 39, with one more heave of the old body, and there were five wickets for Matt Coles, who only came into the match midway through as a concussion substitute for Sam Cook.

To win, Essex had to score 132 – 12 runs more than the 120 that Morne Morkel had requested from his batsmen in the dressing room on Wednesday evening. After lunch the Surrey captain, Rory Burns, threw the ball to Morkel. There would be no quarter given, that much was clear when he turned at the top of his run and high-stepped in, all purring Ferrari, hands low ready for the heist. He struck in his second over, Murali Vijay’s stumps splattered for two. Amar Virdi and Jade Dernbach followed with two wickets apiece, three catches snaffled by Rikki Clarke at slip, and at 55 for five Essex were in trouble. But the captain, Ryan ten Doeschate, and Adam Wheater hustled through the fire with a partnership of 42.

Morkel had not finished. Steam up, he came back for his second spell. Wheater and Harmer were dispatched in the same over, then Porter lbw with 21 needed. Tea was postponed and when Matt Coles was run-out after a mix-up with Ten Doeschate with only eight needed and one wicket to take, all seemed lost.

But somehow, despite some chaotic running, despite last man Matthew Quinn being hit on the helmet by -Morkel, Essex did it, the winning runs hit by Ten Doeschate, in one of the pluckiest innings of the season.

The players embraced on the pitch and Ten Doeschate called his Essex team down to applaud the Surrey players up the pavilion steps.

Burns, who had won nearly every award going at the Surrey Awards Night, was magnanimous in their only defeat of the year: “As an advert for the game and the County Championship, it was everything that it needed to be,” he said. “Even in not winning this game we’ve shown what we’re about.”

And with that the season was gone.

That really is it everyone - thank you for a wonderful season. Onward to the next!

Mystery shrouding why Colin Graves didn’t present the trophy, but for now a drink to Surrey, losers here but worthy champions.

Surrey
Surrey: worthy champions Photograph: TGSPhoto/REX/Shutterstock

Updated

Wow! Ryan Ten Doeschate 53 not out - one of the innings of the season from him in one of the matches of many a season. No world record for Surrey then, but bravo to worthy champions and to Essex for holding their nerve.

Essex have won by one wicket

A tickle from Ten Doeschate off Dernbach to the boundary. What a game! The players embrace and shake hands in the middle.

Updated

Dernbach to Ten Doeschate - Two/one wicket needed.


Updated

Quinn somehow parries down a snorter from Morkel short of Patel at silly mid off.

A new helmet comes out, but it’s not for Quinn but Ryan Patel who crouches down close to Quinn.

Updated

Umpires call the physio out because the hit was on the back of the helmet. All seems ok. We move on . Two/one wicket needed. Morkel to Quinn.

Morkel to Quinn -yikes - it hits him .

Ah, a miscalculation. They can only take one to Virdi’s arm. Two needed...three balls left of Morkel’s over.

They run two. Three needed.

They nick a single off the last ball of the over, despite Quinn tripping over Dernbach. Ten Doeschate to face Morkel’s over. Five needed.

They scamper two - 6 needed.

Dernbach to Ten Doeschate...they turn down the single...

Quinn looks like a wobbly foal who has somehow found himself in the wrong paddock.

Eight/one wicket needed.

10 needed. This has been epic by Ten Doeschate. Oh my, A RUN- OUT, Ten Doeshcate runs out Coles!

Four runs to Coles off Dernbach, nudged just left of gully. 12/2 wickets needed

Not tea. Dernbach resumes.

Tea? No? Umpires having a chat. 16 needed.

Morkel to bowl the last over before tea. Should Surrey lose - it will be their first defeat of the season. 20 needed/2 wickets. Ten Doeschate 37, Coles 0.

Some nice stattage here:

Updated

Coles is totally beaten for pace by Morkel, then Foakes tries to run him out. Survived both. End of Morkel’s over.

MORKELLED! Porter lbw 4. 21/two wickets needed.

Updated

Tea 15 minutes away. 22 runs or 3 wickets needed. Anyone?

The county chairman are locked away here today to decide upon formats/divisions etc. Hope they’ve had a chance to glance at proceedings on the pitch just to remind themselves, of what cricket can be.

A Porter clip beats Virdi to the boundary. 23 needed.

Four byes! 27 to win.

Morkel to Porter. This can’t end well.

Ten Doeschate has a go at one that moves away from Dernbach. And again! The ball before he nearly ran Porter out. Take a deep breath Ryan!

It’s Porter. To survive one ball from Morkel...he does... just. 35 needed. Dernbach replaces Virdi at the Vauxhall end.

Essex need 35, Harmer prods at a couple of Morkel missiles - and oh my - he’s gone. For a duck. Essex 97/7!!

MORKEL!!! Wheater caught Ryan Patel for 11, an outside edge.

Two fours off consecutive balls (one a no ball.Oooh a chance to Jade Dernbach at backward square leg, he doesn’t quite get his hands to it. An expensive over there from Virdi -17 runs. Essex need 35 to win.

A huge lbw shout by Morkel against ten Doeschate - not out.

Morkel returns at the pavilion end. 58 needed, five wickets left.

And this, RIP Geoff Clayton.

Should’ve known better than to grab a coffee. Another wicket - a big one - Westley c Clarke b Dernbach 20. Wheater, thumb obviously well enough, walks out. Essex 67/5.

.
On the prowl: Amar Virdi 2-36 as Surrey chase victory Photograph: Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images

Ey up. Ravi Bopara c Will Jacks b Virdi for a 7-ball duck. Essex 47/4. Enter the Essex captain Ryan ten Doeschate

Lovely cover drive by Tom Westley off Amar Virdi beats the ring of fielders to the boundary. Essex 47/3.

.
Tom Westley: in lovely touch Photograph: TGSPhoto/REX/Shutterstock

It worked! First ball - Lawrence c Clarke (of course it was) b Dernbach 10. Essex 42/3. Bopara and Westley to steady the ship.

I didn’t mean Morkel actually - but he’s been replaced by Jade Dernbach from the pavilion end.

Dan Lawrence takes a couple of steps down the wicket and heaves Amar Virdi for six. Essex 41/2 need 91. Time for a bowling change. Hmmmm - I’d throw it to Clarke.

A harmless bouncer sails past Dan Lawrence.

Virdi gets in on the act. Nick Browne caught Clarke for 12. Essex 25/2.

..
Neck and crop: Murali Vijay is bowled by Morne Morkel for 2 Photograph: TGSPhoto/REX/Shutterstock

Morne’s got the business air. Casual walk back, accelerating Ferrari of a run-up, hands in a muffler, quick fire release.

Essex 25/1 - need 107 to win.

This:

and this:

Updated

Essex need 119 to win...

Here we go! Vijay MORKELLED for 2. Essex 13/1.

And the ball is thrown to... Amar Virdi

Updated

All over! Jade Dernbach has a huge swing at Jamie Porter and loses his middle stump. Surrey 541 all out - a lead over Essex of 131. Now for the interesting bit - Essex will face one over before lunch.

.
Matt Coles: patience rewarded, 5-121. Photograph: Mitchell Gunn/Getty Images

And that’s a ninth wicket down for Surrey, Patel for a patient (148 ball) 38. Five wickets now for Matt Coles.

Manchester Evening News’ Chris Ostick calling for Tom Bailey to have gone on the Lions’ tour. Quite a good call actually.

This was Rikki

And news for Notts’ supporters...

Aha! Clarke has just been caught sub, bowled sub! And there goes another, Morne Morkel for a duck. Surrey 532 for 8 with the lead past the magical 120.

The Surrey lead is now 104.

.
Power to add: Rikki Clarke has hit 5 fours in his 26 Photograph: Christopher Lee/Getty Images

A sweep by Clarke off Simon Harmer takes him to 15 and Surrey past 500. And there’s another. This feels like the calm before the storm

Incidentally, more good news for Joe Denly - awarded a testimonial next season by Kent.

And thoughts for Mason Crane, who has become a bit of a forgotten man. Still suffering with a stress fracture of the back - and unable to do anything much till February. Wishing him the best of times next season.

This is for Glamorgan fans - a ray of (desperate) hope:

Rikki Clarke sticks the big bat out to Matt Coles and the ball rockets back to the boundary. And there goes another, next ball.

One of many things I love about cricket - there must be 700 people here and perhaps 80 per cent of them are sitting by themselves, with their thoughts, and their notebooks, and their papers. And that’s just fine.

Coles just made Patel swerve out of the way with a vicious lifter. Not really what Essex wanted to see.

.
Morne Morkel: A lead of 120 will do lads. Photograph: Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images

Apparently Morne Morkel requested a lead of 120 in the changing room last night. On a slow-going morning it is currently 75. Get down here!

Summary

HPG those awards are excellent! I’ve half written some for the Spin next week but yours are already funnier. Damn you clever people BTL.

A wicket! No! Don’t let this be a damp squib... Will Jacks gone for 53. Surrey 479/6. But here come Rikki Clarke’s thundering footsteps.

God - 20 years? RIP RHF - a wonderful woman

This is how gorgeous it is. Literally cloudless. No elegiac air yet. Give it time, give it time.

And some curious news from Australia where the players have voted for their vice-captain after candidate hustings.

Updated

For non-Surrey enthusiasts - this will be a super read:

I know this is a bit Surrey-tastic, but bear with me...

Academy Player of the Year: Jamie Smith

Kia Most Improved Player of the Year: Amar Virdi

Graham Kersey Team Man of the Year: Vikram Solanki

Young Player of the Year: Ollie Pope

Anne Bickerstaff 2nd XI Champagne Moment of the Season: Jake Dunford for going in to bat to face the last ball of the 2nd XI Trophy match v Hampshire, with two needed to win, ramping Reece Topley over the keeper, dropping his bat, falling over and still getting two runs to win the game.

Player of the Year: Rory Burns

Sylvester Clark Large Rum Moment: Will Jacks’ for his catch at short-leg catch to give Surrey a thrilling 6-run victory against Lancashire

Ann Millington-Jones Woman Player of the Year: Nat Sciver

Most Improved Player: Ollie Pope

Kia Women’s T20 Player of the Year: Bryony Smith

Kia Women’s 50-Over Player of the Year: Kirstie White

Kia Surrey Stars Player of the Year: Natalie Sciver

Kia Young Player of the Year: Ollie Pope

Kia Bowler of the Year: Morne Morkel

Kia Batsman of the Year: Rory Burns

Members’ Player of the Year: Rory Burns

Players’ Player of the Year: Rory Burns

Hello! Yes, it’s back for one final fling - the last CC blog of the year. After yesterday’s clatter of wickets, we have only one match still going, and aptly, it’s here. The Champions versus Essex.

When Surrey were bowled out for 67 on the first day, defeat looked inevitable, and their lead now is still only (but symmetrically) 67, but…with this team, at this ground, anything is possible. If they do pull off the most unlikely heist of the season, it will be a world record. No side has ever won a first-class match having conceded a first -innings lead of more than 402. That record is held by Northern Districts, who beat Central Districts by two wickets at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval in December 2006. Surrey’s first-innings deficit here was 410.

If you’re at a loose end, come down. Hell, why not. It’s free entry and the row upon row of green seats will welcome your company. There is a sweet early morning warmth to the air -a roll up your sleeves late September - and the magpies are chatting away on top of the gasometer. A lovely chap asked me where to find a bacon barm - I couldn’t help him but I hope he’ll sniff one out. The County Championship trophy will be presented later, by Colin Graves - I’ll leave that one with you.

Surrey have had a few hours to sleep off their awards’ dinner where the star of the show was Rory Burns - in his first year as captain, he won Player of the Year, Members’ Player of the Year, Players’ Player of the Year and Kia Batsman of the Year after scoring more runs than anyone else in this year’s Specsavers County Championship. His call-up for the England tour was more deserved than any for many a year. Good luck to all today - let’s hope its a cracker.

Updated

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