Date-stamped : 07 May95 - 22:23
SUNLG: Warwickshire v Surrey, Edgbaston, 7 May 1995

Warwickshire defence off on wrong foot - C.Martin-Jenkins

Surrey (192-5) bt Warwicks (145) by 47 runs

A BACK injury to Dermot Reeve, oddly sustained as he  ran  in  to
bowl, and a leg strain which prevented Dominic Ostler from mining
further his rich seam of runs against Surrey, contributed towards
a  disappointing  start to Warwickshire`s defence of their Sunday
League title.

Ostler`s attempt to knock off the runs in boundaries ended  in  a
skied  catch  which  started  a  deterioration which proved fatal
against steady Surrey bowling.

On a dry, slow Edgbaston pitch, a modest total of  192  for  five
proved more than enough for Surrey. Adam Hollioake played a valu-
able all-round role to keep himself as an outsider in the   frame
for   possible  selection  for  next  winter`s  World  Cup.  More
immedi- ately, with selection for the one-day internationals  due
in   10 days`  time,  the  form of Alec Stewart and Graham Thorpe
was en- couraging.

There was, despite the redevelopment at the City End, a crowd  of
some  5,000  and  many of the young among them were wearing their
new replica shirts. This year`s uniforms are,  according to   the
propaganda,  "predominantly  white", which is a monumental decep-
tion.

There was a shower during the Surrey innings, after they had  won
an  important  toss, but it merely had the effect of reducing the
match to 39 overs a side. Alastair Brown was deftly caught at the
wicket  trying  to nibble the ball down to third man, but Stewart
and Darren Bicknell  got  the  scoreboard moving  rapidly  in   a
partnership of 53 from 60 balls.

Gradually, however, it became apparent that despite a rapid  out-
field,  timing  the  ball was not going to be easy. Stewart skied
Dougie Brown to mid-on, and Bicknell became less and less  fluent
before  Trevor  Penney  swooped  at  cover  to run him out with a
direct hit.

Thorpe, however, found a level-headed partner in  Hollioake,  and
together  they  built  the  second  useful  stand of the innings.
Thorpe hit only one four in his 60, but worked  the ball   deftly
into  the  gaps  as  Moles, acting as captain in Reeve`s absence,
used his spinners, Davis and Neil Smith, in harness. After Thorpe
had  lifted Paul Smith to deep square-leg, Hollioake provided the
weighty blows which Warwickshire, when their turn came, could not
manage.

Like Surrey, Warwickshire had an immediate setback - Smith caught
behind  off  Pigott  - but Ostler, driving beautifully, and Moles
seemed to have things well under control  until Ostler  hit   the
bustling Mark Kenlock to mid-on.

It was here that Hollioake played his part with the ball as well,
his variations of pace proving ideal.

Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk)
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