MATCH REPORT: Five wickets for Parkinson as Surrey set Lancs big target
Matt Parkinson claimed his sixth five-wicket career haul and took his 150th first-class wicket while England wicketkeeper/batsman Ben Foakes scored a commanding century as Surrey set Lancashire a huge target on the third day of this LV= County Championship encounter.
Set 444 runs to win off a minimum of 107 overs, Lancashire had reached 37 without loss from 11 overs by the close and the size of the task can be demonstrated by the fact the Red Rose have only scored 400 or more three times in the fourth innings of a run chase, twice in 1910 and memorably at the Oval in 2007.
Resuming the second morning on 233-8, Lancashire enjoyed a good first hour with the bat thanks to some attacking cricket from Colin de Grandhomme well supported by Will Williams.
With three overs to be bowled before the new ball was due, Surrey opted to utilise the part time spin of Dom Sibley and de Grandhomme took advantage pulling a six and a four to square leg to put the Red Rose on the front foot.
The former Surrey all-rounder continued that positive approach to reach a debut fifty for Lancashire from 71 balls that helped add 81 valuable runs for the ninth wicket, ended when Williams was lbw to Sean Abbott’s first ball of the day for a Lancashire-best innings of 30. Aussie all-rounder Abbott finished with impressive figures 5-50 on his Surrey debut.
Dan Worrall bowled Parkinson for 5 to give Surrey a 151-run lead but skipper Burns opted not to enforce the follow-on and set about extending the lead.
With six overs to bat before lunch Will Williams struck with the last ball of the session, trapping Sibley plumb lbw for 6, and in the circumstances the Red Rose attack managed to contain the visitors’ scoring fairly effectively during the afternoon.
Matt Parkinson did most of the damage taking four wickets in the session.
Ollie Pope was the first to depart for 38, top edging a sweep that was brilliantly caught at midwicket by a diving de Grandhomme, before Ryan Patel played back fatally to his first ball to be bowled by a big spinning delivery.
Burns top-edged a sweep off Parkinson to Dane Vilas at backward short leg shortly after completing his half century, and Jamie Smith did likewise into the hands of Steven Croft at short fine leg for 13.
Those wickets help reign in the scoring rate but once again Foakes produced another excellent innings, reaching his second half century in this match off 57 balls just after the tea interval and forging another useful partnership with of 61 with Cam Steel after the break to take Surrey lead past the 400-mark.
Steel became Parkinson’s fifth wicket after being bowled sweeping for 31 but Foakes progressed relentlessly to his century off 94 balls when sweeping the leg spinner for 4 with Surrey then declaring on 292-6, setting Lancashire a target of 444 runs from a minimum of 107 overs.
Luke Wells (28 not out) and Keaton Jennings (9 not out) steered their way through the 11 overs of Lancashire’s second innings to reach the close safely and they return at 11am tomorrow.
“I think the boys have done well today,” said Matt Parkinson.
“The gameplan was to restrict them and make them bat as long as possible, which I think we did quite well.
“The surface is good, it wasn’t really spinning from straight, a bit from round (the wicket) and I think to only have batted 11 overs tonight was good. We thought we might have to bat for 20 overs or so.
“To put the shift in today was good. I was pleased to have got some wickets. I felt the only way to restrict them and make chances was to come round the wicket into the rough, so to get five was nice. There were a few ‘burgles’ in there as well!” he laughed.
Parkinson claimed seven wickets in the first match of last season, and he said: “April is my month! I’m like an ‘anti’ spinner – I do well in April and badly in August!!” he said with a big grin.
“Surrey have played well to be fair,” he added. They batted well and they’ve got a strong line-up.
So, for them to score at the rate they did, we’re quite pleased (to have restricted them) and bat just the 11 overs.
“The target looks a long way off now, but with the line-up that we have, we’ve got a great side and it’ll be up to the batters tomorrow.”
Ken Grime
Photos: Barry Mitchell & Luke Adams
