Championship Match at Guildford in the Balance – Day Three Report

Kent 229-6 and 408 v Surrey 398

Stuart Meaker, with bat and ball, turned this LV= County Championship Division Two match in Surrey’s favour yesterday as Kent twice failed to capitalise on strong positions at Guildford.

By the end of day three, with fast bowler Meaker adding 4 for 67 to his pugnacious innings of 53 earlier, Surrey had reduced Kent to 229 for six in their second innings – only a moderate lead of 239 on a pitch that is still a good one for strokeplay.

Kent may yet live to rue their inability, at the start of the day, to prevent Meaker and Matt Dunn from adding 82 for Surrey’s last wicket, boosting their first innings total to 398, and then a collapse in the middle of the final session from a serene 164 for two to a panicky 178 for six.

Sam Billings, adding an unbeaten 27 to his first innings 82 not out, did steady the Kent ship in the closing stages of another sun-blessed day at Woodbridge Road, with Calum Haggett keeping him solid company on 20 not out ina stand so far worth 51, but in a fiercely-fought contest which has swayed one way and then the next, it is Surrey who will be the happier of the two teams with a day to go.

Victory here, for both teams, would be much coveted in terms of pushing on into the second division promotion race, and Kent will not fancy defending a target of under 300 on a traditionally fast-scoring ground.

The day began with Surrey still 105 runs adrift at 303 for six in reply to Kent’s first innings 408, and Kent would have sensed victory themselves when Darren Stevens struck with the first balls of the second and fourth overs of the morning to remove the overnight pair of Gareth Batty and Gary Wilson.

Kent had taken the second new ball immediately, as it was due at the start, and both Batty and Wilson, who added just four runs to his overnight 80 not out, edged behind as Stevens found some swing.

Mitch Claydon then pinned Tim Linley leg-before, for 4, and at 316 for nine there was only one team in it. Meaker and Dunn, however, first dug in against Kent’s four-pronged seam attack and soon began to flourish.

Kent captain Rob Key might have turned to off spinner Adam Riley earlier in the partnership, especially as an option against the left-handed Dunn, whose previous highest first-class score was just 13, but despite continuing pace and carry from the well-grassed surface there was little else for seam and especially spin to work with.

Eventually, when Key did call up Riley, it was he who denied Surrey a fifth and final batting bonus point. With three balls left in which to get two more runs to take Surrey to 400, Meaker aimed a reverse sweep and was leg-before. His 53 had taken 73 balls, with seven fours, and Dunn remained 31 not out.

Meaker then decided to make an impression with the ball. In his first spell he had Daniel Bell-Drummond caught behind for 25 from a sharp lifter, and then removed Ben Harmison for 11 to a catch at first slip.

Key and Brendan Nash were largely untroubled, however, as they added 95 in 22 overs for the third wicket, but when Meaker raised himself for another impressive burst after tea the game was suddenly turned on its head.

Nash, after a spritely 51 from 80 balls with eight fours and a six uppercut over square cover off Dunn, tried to slash Meaker away and edged behind, where Rory Burns was deputising for Wilson as Surrey’s captain was nursing a bruised hand that did not prevent him from fielding, though, and throwing in from mid on to run out Sam Northeast for 5 when Stevens sent him back.

Either side of that dismissal, Meaker ended Key’s assured 59 with another fine ball which ended up at first slip off the edge of his bat, and Stevens was brilliantly held at second slip for 2 when he tried to turn Dunn to leg and got a leading edge.

Surrey's Meaker was pleased afterwards with his all-round contribution, especially after more than two months on the sidelines before this match with injury and then Second XI cricket. He said: "It's good to have showed the management what I can do, and what they have been missing out on. But if the team is doing well, which they have been, then I am happy – even if it means being out of the side. When we batted at the end of our innings I felt the Kent bowlers were searching a bit too hard for that last wicket. When we bowled, I tried to stay patient and just concentrated on hitting the pitch hard and keeping a good line on and around off stump."

Kent captain Rob Key said: "It's been an interesting game so far and it could be a very interesting last day. On this sort of pitch, with the fast outfield, it is very difficult if you have to declare and set someone a target, so perhaps it would be best if we are bowled out! With a lead of 239, we definitely need a few more tomorrow morning, though."