Surrey register first County Championship win of season with 74-run victory over Warwickshire

Veteran spinner Gareth Batty took four for 34 while pacemen Sam Curran and Morne Morkel each chipped in with two wickets as the defending champions finally got a win on the board

The Oval (fourth day of four): Surrey 194 & 325, Warwickshire 230 & 215 - Surrey won by 74 runs

Scorecard

Surrey wrapped up their maiden Specsavers County Championship victory of the season by claiming Warwickshire’s last seven wickets for 67 runs to win by 74 runs at an overcast Kia Oval.

After a cut and thrust opening three days to this Division One basement battle, it was the hosts who took a grip on proceedings on the final morning by claiming seven wickets inside two hours to win with two sessions to spare, banking 19 points to Warwickshire’s four.

Veteran spinner Gareth Batty proved their nemesis with four for 34, but pacemen Sam Curran and Morne Morkel each chipped in with two wickets apiece during an action-packed session.   

Warwickshire, needing 142 to land their third, first division win of summer, resumed on their overnight score of 142 for three only to lose nightwatchman Craig Miles leg before to Rikki Clarke's fourth ball of the day without addition to his overnight total of nine.

On a gloomy morning, the visiting top order attempted to dig in but found batting a struggle, particularly against the pace of Morkel, who had shouts for leg before and a catch in the cordon turned down against Adam Hose and Dominic Sibley respectively.

Warwickshire’s fifth-wicket partners saw off Clarke who, after 45 minutes from the Pavilion End, gave way to the off-spin of Batty. In his opening over Batty had two leg before shouts in three balls turned down by umpire James Middlebrook as Sibley battled on.    

With 100 runs required for victory, Warwickshire lost Hose for 21. Squared up on the walk to one from Curran that thudded into the back pad forcing umpire Martin Saggers to uphold the leg before appeal.

^{Morne Morkel chipped in with two wickets}

Four balls later and again from around the wicket, Curran swung one back in to pluck put Matthew Lamb’s off stump with one that nipped through the gate via a thin inside edge.

Warwickshire’s demise continued as they lost their third wicket inside seven balls and without addition to the total. Sibley, looking to rotate the strike against Batty, called a hesitant Tim Ambrose through for a risky single only for Scott Borthwick to swoop and throw to the non-striker’s end where Ben Foakes ran out his counterpart for a duck.

VISIT THE COUNTY HUB: Your one-stop shop for English domestic cricket

Curran, whose workload in the match was restricted to 30 overs under an ECB request, gave way at the Vauxhall End to Morne Morkel who ended Sibley’s 231-minute stay for 73 with his fifth delivery. Sibley, driving on the up, appeared stunned when the tall South African stooped in his follow through to claim a stunning return catch low to his left.

With 81 still needed, Jeetan Patel (17) danced down the pitch to Batty only to miss an attempted heave over mid-on and gift a regulation stumping to Foakes.   

Last man Oliver Hannon-Dolby then skied an attempted slog sweep to Batty who ran around toward mid-on to claim the catch and end the match.

Courtesy of the ECB reporters network

For more outstanding county coverage, try The Cricketer for three issues free this summer. Click here to sign up today