Yorkshire 133 for 7 (Wharton 45*, Worrall 3-24, Fisher 2-42) vs Surrey
Surrey are used to spending September combating for the title, however this yr issues are completely different. Champions for 3 seasons in a row from 2022-24, they’ve gained simply as soon as within the Championship this summer time and headed into the ultimate month of the season solely three factors forward of ninth-placed Leicestershire. There isn’t any denying it: they’re in a relegation scrap.
Worrall was unplayable on the Kia Oval throughout Surrey’s title-winning years, taking 90 wickets at 17.12 throughout 17 house video games. He has been a peripheral determine this season attributable to calf and knee accidents, however was at his finest in opposition to Yorkshire: he returned figures of three for twenty-four from 17 overs as Surrey’s four-man seam assault thrived after successful an necessary toss on a murky day.
James Wharton and Matthew Revis battled arduous so as to add 91 for the fourth wicket in 37.2 overs, spanning the tea interval, however each fell to Tom Lawes earlier than reaching 50. Revis chipped to midwicket and Wharton skewed to second slip, and Worrall had Jonny Bairstow and George Hill caught within the cordon shortly after every of Lawes’s wickets.
Surrey’s solely win within the Championship this season got here on Might 4, when it might have appeared unthinkable that they’d go on a six-match winless streak. However they discover themselves at risk after a bleak season, wherein accidents, availability, lifeless house pitches and poor kind have left them wanting anxiously over their shoulders.
New abroad recruit Auqib Nabi’s first day as a Surrey participant ended wicketless, however he nonetheless performed an element in a formidable bowling efficiency. Fisher recognized a brief interval after tea, wherein Yorkshire managed three scoring photographs in 34 balls in opposition to Nabi and Lawes, because the day’s turning level.
“The stress simply stored ramping up,” he mentioned. “You could possibly really feel it on the market: one thing was going to occur. That is what we have been talking about and we capitalised on that, staying affected person for lengthy sufficient, and we received the rewards ultimately… I feel that could possibly be the very best day we have put collectively as a bunch [this season].”
“I am gutted and disenchanted. You dream of taking part in for England,” Fisher mentioned. “There’s just one Take a look at left now and having seven [seam] bowlers within the squad, you do not want that, so I perceive it, however I will simply hold making an attempt to place within the arduous yards for Surrey. The video games come thick and quick, so that you attempt to roll with that rhythm however you additionally attempt to hold your physique in a great place.”
Fisher mentioned that Marcus North, the England selector, had been clear in his communication with him, and mentioned that he’s working carefully with ECB pace-bowling lead Troy Cooley to turn into “the very best swing bowler that I can”.
He added: “I’ve had setbacks earlier than and it is probably not a setback, however I’m gutted. I felt like I did alright once I performed right here [against New Zealand] at The Oval and it has been very nice to be round it once more, however you’ve got simply received to maintain making an attempt to bowl properly… I am actually pleased with what the fellows are doing and hopefully in some unspecified time in the future, I is perhaps again in it.”
Surrey’s seamers beat the bat so usually on the opening day that Fisher agreed with a suggestion that the scoreboard didn’t fairly replicate their dominance, however will likely be cautious that Yorkshire’s assault could possibly be harmful on this pitch. Additionally they face the prospect of a fourth-innings run chase in opposition to Kuldeep Yadav, although a robust first-innings effort tomorrow would put them properly forward.
Matt Curler is a senior correspondent at Cricinfo. @mroller98
