Date-stamped : 11 Aug96 - 22:29 County Championship 1996 Lancashire v Surrey Trafalgar Road Ground, Birkdale, Southport 7, 8, 9 August 1996 ====>REPORT (Day 1, August 7 1996) Bicknell restores Surrey hopes By Stephen Thorpe at Southport First day of four: Lancs (128 for five) trail Surrey (211) by 83 runs SURREY have already played a substantial proportion of away matches on various out grounds this summer, and they would not have been enamoured by the opening exchange of this trip to the seaside. However, matters improved when Martin Bicknell`s four wickets reduced Lancashire to 128 for five after Surrey were all out for 211 in 55.4 overs. The surface will now automatically be reported to the TCCB pitches committee and will be examined by Harry Brind, the inspector of pitches, but the overview should prob- ably read de- vilish rather than dangerous on a truncated first day. Certainly, a well-insulated crowd enjoyed the early fare after Lancashire won the toss in grey, blustery conditions. The newly-laid pitch at the Southport and Birkdale club was an unk- nown quantity but its sporting nature became apparent after dampness around the square delayed the start by an hour. Surrey lost four wickets in posting 79 before lunch with Peter Martin and Ian Austin sharing eight wickets. Martin clipped Mark Butcher`s off-bale with a beauty which left him, and Darren Bicknell lost his off-stump to a Glenn Chapple shooter before Austin claimed Jason Ratcliffe and Alistair Brown in his first over. Brendon Julian, the Australian all-rounder, has had an largely undistinguished season, but a rumbustious 41 off 43 balls, in- cluding a pulled six beyond the railway line at backward square leg, gave Surrey a semblance of respectability. Lancashire`s riposte, after Jason Gallian went to an early slip catch, mixed fortune with forthrightness. Bicknell had forced Steve Titchard to drag on then trap Neil Fairbrother with a toe-cruncher first ball which necessitated a hospital visit for a precautionary X-ray. Graham Lloyd somehow survived the hat-trick ball, then set the tone for Mike Watkinson and Warren Hegg with a series of blis- tering drives on the up through the off side. ====>REPORT (Day 2, 8 August 1996) Julian raises title stakes for Surrey By Stephen Thorpe at Southport Second day of four: Surrey (211 & 366-6) lead Lancashire (145) by 432 runs SURREY put the vagaries of the pitch into true perspective and boosted their title aspirations immeasurably in another incident-packed day at Trafalgar Road yesterday. Brendon Julian`s undefeated 119, a maiden first-class century for Surrey, with 13 fours and five sixes, was a remarkable effort given the presence of the TCCB`s inspector of pitches, Harry Brind, who arrived in the morn- ing to pass judgment on a relaid wicket. Green in patches and offering uneven bounce, the prognosis was devilish rather than dangerous, with remedial action needed, in- cluding a top dressing application. Two years ago Lancashire were docked 25 points for an unfit pitch at Old Trafford, prompting head groundsman Peter Marron to resign from the TCCB Pitches Committee, but Lancashire are un- likely to be censured here, and rightly so. A suspect surface preys on the mind and Lancashire`s death wish saw their last five wickets fall for only 17 runs in a tawdry morning session. Mike Watkinson, chasing a wide one, presented Martin Bicknell with his 50th wicket of the season and Ian Austin was bowled by a skidder as Joey Benjamin finished off the tail with a spell of four for two. Lancashire`s plight worsened when Darren Bicknell and Mark Butcher, forceful left-handers both, doubled the lead of 66 in only eight overs. Butcher made the first half-century of the match in 46 balls and, though Surrey suddenly lost three wickets for one run, Nadeem Shahid demonstrated again the benefits of concentration and selective wrist work in a splen- did 66. Julian has had a largely undistinguished season, but the Aus- tralian all-rounder was now firmly entrenched and plundered the attack after surviving a controver- sial incident. Nick Speak held a steepler at backward square leg but off-loaded to Steve Titchard before stepping over the rope.However, Law 32 Section 3b states that if a fieldsman releases the ball in such a manner it is still considered in play and may be caught by another fieldsman. Juli- an was awarded one run and celebrated his escape by crashing the unfortunate Glenn Chapple for a further three sixes before heavy rain saved Lancashire further humiliation. ====>REPORT (Day 3, August 9 1996) A target too far for gritty Lancs By Stephen Thorpe at Southport Third day of four: Surrey (211 & 442) bt Lancashire (145 & 368) by 140 runs LANCASHIRE made a fair fist of a daunting target of 509 but vic- tory was never really in prospect as Surrey made valuable ground in their search for a first championship title in 25 years. Graft and application were prerequisite after the ignominy of Lancashire`s first innings, and Jason Gallian and Steve Titchard supplied both in good measure during an opening partnership of 96. Some dreamers, somnolent in the sunshine, enter- tained strange notions of a Lancashire victory but per- manence could never be assured on a pitch still offering unpredictable bounce and Titchard (54) lost his leg stump work- ing across Joey Ben- jamin. Indeed, all the batsmen suffered around the hands and body and Gallian was clearly disconcerted after a blow to the wrist from his erstwhile drinking partner, Brendon Julian, who offered a salutory thumbs-up. At least he had one to raise. Gallian, though, did not last long afterwards, steering Mar- tin Bicknell to second slip, and Neil Fair- brother marched in, bruised toe and all. The left-hander made a king pair here against the same opposition 11 years back and narrowly avoided the dubious distinction of another before Bicknell sent his leg stump cartwheeling. Then, when Nick Speak (39) was castled by Benjamin and Julian re- moved Graham Lloyd and Warren Hegg, Mike Watkinson (53) and Ian Austin (40) engaged in a thrilling late onslaught. Surrey, perhaps surprisingly given today`s incle- ment weather forecast, had chosen to extend their already mam- moth lead of 432, but immediately lost Julian, the overnight centurion, yorked by Gallian with the fourth ball of the morning. The Lancashire opener`s most ardent supporter would not rate him as an all-rounder, but Gallian breezed in with renewed vi- gour, claiming Graham Kersey with an outswinger and Bicknell caught and bowled off a miscued pull. Benjamin scuppered his figures somewhat in a whirlwind cameo of 38, but Gallian still finished with a career- best six for 115. Lancashire have injury concerns prior to Tuesday`s NatWest semi- final showdown with the old enemy at Old Trafford. Glen Chapple also has a bruised toe, Peter Martin is suffering from a back-spasm problem and Austin has a ham- string strain, but all are expected to be fit. Source :: Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by Ravi (sista@*.latech.edu)