By Peter Roebuck at Guildford
First day of four: Surrey (150) lead Middlesex (115) by 35 runs
WICKETS tumbled as the London counties confronted each other on another dismal day at a tree-lined ground snuggled between a busy railway line and the A31.
Twenty-two men took guard and only four reached 30. Mostly it was bad batting on a slow, slightly uneven pitch. Eight trips to the crease went unrewarded, three of them undertaken by England captains past or present.
Surrey batted poorly and Middlesex were worse. Meanwhile, their Second XIs were meeting at the Oval, a Test ground.
No sooner had play been called than the falling of the mighty began. Madame Desfarges might have been knitting nearby. Though the visiting pacemen did not bowl well, wickets fell anyway - most of them to Chris Batt, an erect, wild-eyed left-armer with whose services Sussex dispensed last year.
Pitching to a full length, he caused Alec Stewart to chop on and broke through Adam Hollioake's forward thrust. Already, Mark Butcher had pushed to mid-on as Surrey slipped to seven for three.
Ian Ward and Ally Brown now produced the most convincing partnership of the day as the Middlesex fast bowlers lost their line.
Ward was organised and watchful, while Brown's sporadic belligerence lasted until a juggling catch was held at mid-off to give Phil Tufnell his 12th wicket of the summer. Thereafter, the hosts collapsed against Batt's leg-swing and Angus Fraser's accuracy and hostility. Only Ian Salisbury showed defiance against some improving bowling.
Surrey needed early wickets and they took them. Martin Bicknell was splendid and Alex Tudor worried everyone. Mark Ramprakash edged a lifter and Justin Langer was beaten by a skidder, whereupon David Nash's feet let him down.
Middlesex's batting is frail, and Owais Shah has been dropped. Still, he would soon be missing anyhow, ridiculously taken away to play boys' cricket against Pakistan.
Presently, Saqlain Mushtaq took two cheap wickets, whereupon Keith Brown rallied his side with some earthy deflections before a finger rose once again.
The pitch was mostly blameless and will not be recommended by the umpires for inspection.
Day 2: Brown plays anchor role for Surrey
By Peter Roebuck at Guildford
Second day of four: Surrey (150 & 335-8) lead Middlesex (115) by 270 runs
A STURDY innings yesterday from Alistair Brown has put Surrey in a position to win this match and sustain their championship challenge.
Ignoring the boiling-pot strokes that have often been his undoing, Brown sustained his effort for 199 minutes, taking his team from plainness to prosperity.
Not until the day's last over, with the second new ball taken, was he dismissed on a pitch resting between early fickleness and late spin.
It was an important and instructive contribution from a committed cricketer. Brown reached fifty in 99 balls, a cobwebbed approach by his standards, and he continued to show the discretion of a reformed gossip as he punctured the covers, worked off his hip and otherwise defended carefully.
Able support was given by Martin Bicknell, upright and correct, and by Ian Salisbury, chipping and chopping in his optimistic way.
Brown gave the match a shape previously missing. Repeatedly, Surrey had threatened to take charge and repeatedly they were repulsed. Capably as Middlesex bowled, most of the batsmen signed their own warrants.
Mark Butcher was held at point, his prospects of a recall diminished in front- foot confusion. Alec Stewart's commanding innings ended as he did not offer a stroke to Chris Batt, who refused to be subdued. After an unconvincing start, Adam Hollioake took root only to drive to Mike Gatting at cover to give Richard Johnson a sorely needed wicket.
Soon afterwards Ben Hollioake drove timidly to midwicket to reward Keith Dutch for a long spell of generously flighted off-breaks. Hollioake the younger is averaging 17.1 in first-class cricket, hardly enough to hold a county place.
Next, Jon Batty also perished without trying to hit the ball, presumably as an act of solidarity with Surrey stumpers. Phil Tufnell took this wicket and bowled steadily without turning it much.
Finally, Bicknell was held at third man as he played a rose-cutter of a stroke. Only Ian Ward had no need to reprove himself, a fine delivery from Angus Fraser catching his edge to end another accomplished contribution.
Middlesex kept to their task admirably but they had missed their chance on the opening day. Now they must face the Surrey spinners with runs on the board. At least they did eventually remove Brown.
Day 3: Tudor crowns Surrey charge
By Peter Roebuck at Guildford
Surrey (150 & 420) bt Middlesex (115 & 175) by 280 runs
SURREY'S charge of the championship continues apace. They were much too strong for a Middlesex team whose confidence was in their boots. Among the downcast visitors only Keith Brown, top scorer in both innings, found the skill and patience needed to resist a dark hour. Everyone else was cut down with awful ease.
Adam Hollioake's team played some compelling cricket. Alex Tudor and Ian Salisbury set the tone with some bold strokes as play resumed on the third morning. Tudor played some memorable shots, not least two drives through cover hit on the rise. Doubtless he has learnt much from Alec Stewart. History does not record any previous instance of Tudors and Stewarts working well together.
At last Tudor drove to mid-on, whereupon Salisbury cut to slip. Middlesex left the field with heavy tread and heavier hearts. Within a ball their plight was worse as Mike Gatting, his feet unmoving, was beaten by Martin Bicknell's sharply delivered off-cutter. Captain Pugwash had bagged a pair. At least he had time to join his fellow selectors and, incredibly, Bob Bennett in his role as chairman of some committee or other, in choosing England's one-day captain and party for various forthcoming engagements.
Justin Langer, destined to bat at first wicket down for Australia this autumn, and Mark Ramprakash stood firm until lunch. It was no easy task for Bicknell bowled as probingly as ever and Tudor was fast in his muscular way.
Tudor may well play for England against Sri Lanka in August. Disconcertingly, he seemed to be walking on eggshells after his long spell and twice left the field. Nonetheless, his talent cannot be missed.
Alas, Langer did not long survive the break for lunch, mistiming a back-foot drive to be athletically held at mid-off. Already the end was nigh. Ramprakash fell next. Pinned down after some resounding strokes early in his innings, he pulled at Bicknell and another demanding catch was taken, this time at mid-on. At 49 for nine, Tudor struck again as Paul Weekes cut to third slip. Both pacemen had maintained their hostility and accuracy in spells lasting 90 minutes.
David Nash and Brown now built a partnership owing as much to duty as defiance. Ben Hollioake tried his luck and found some testing pace without taking a wicket. Checked, Surrey threw the ball to their crafty spinners and presently wickets were tumbling once more.
Salisbury has shortened his run, lost his drag and improved his accuracy. He found his rhythm without difficulty and pretty soon pitched a leg-break that Nash could only edge to slip. Nor were the lower orders in any mood to linger, Keith Dutch moving down the pitch and mis-hitting to mid-off, Richard Johnson charging and missing a leg-break, whereupon Chris Batt was beaten as he played back.
Salisbury had bowled well and Saqlain Mushtaq wheeled away in his cheeky, mesmeric manner, his leg-cutter confounding one and all. Both spinners became a little impatient as Brown swept away and Angus Fraser played some curious strokes, so that quicker balls and even bouncers were seen.
But the end was not long delayed as Fraser edged a sweep and was well caught by Ian Ward. Finally, Phil Tufnell swung and missed as Surrey secured victory by 280 runs. Middlesex have slumped to their third successive defeat against these neighbours. One team rises, another falls.