In contrast to their indifferent performance this season in the Norwich Union League, the Surrey Lions today put up an excellent display in defeating the Warwickshire Bears by the comfortable margin of 123 runs.

Chasing 232, Warwickshire's innings seemed to be progressing well when Surrey struck in the eighth over, dismissing Mark Wagh with the total 44 and again, a run later, in the ninth over, with the wicket of Dougie Brown for nought.

The Bears' innings from then on remained unsettled with Surrey making a double bowling change. Ben Hollioake and Tim Murtagh, replacing the opening bowlers, took two wickets on 66. Hollioake, with his second ball, had Nick Knight caught behind on the leg side for 34 and Murtagh, also with his second ball, bowled David Hemp for 14.

Warwickshire lost half their side for just 84 with Michael Powell lofting a catch to mid-off off Hollioake and in the next over Murtagh bowled Keith Piper, for nought, with one that kept low. Ben Hollioake's superb spell of bowling continued with him claiming the wicket of Neil Smith with the help of his brother Adam at second slip.

Hollioake at that stage had three wickets for four in six overs and the visitors were 88 for seven. There was little left of The Bears' innings; after Mohammad Sheikh was run out seven runs later, the Lions dismissed the last two on 108 from 29.5 overs. Murtagh took them both to finish with four for 31, his best limited-overs figures.

Earlier, Alistair Brown, renowned for his aggressive batting, was in his most belligerent mood.

Having decided to bat first in overcast conditions, the Lions made a poor start as the Bears took three wickets in the first five overs.

After Charles Dagnall took the first wicket on 12, Dougie Brown bowled Mark Butcher and Adam Hollioake in successive overs with the total just 15.

But two fine partnerships revived the Surrey innings with Brown dominating. He added 77 with Alec Stewart during which he reached his half-century from 45 balls and as many as 46 of those runs came from boundaries.

After Stewart was caught at mid-on for 19, Brown continued his onslaught and along with Ben Hollioake he added 64 of which the latter made 31.

Brown's hundred, his second in the league this season and third in all limited-overs competition, came from only 98 balls. After reaching three figures, he hit his 14th boundary followed by a six, his fourth, a massive one which sailed over the hospitality tents installed along the mid-wicket boundary.

He was finally dismissed, lbw to Dougie Brown, for 116 - off 108 balls - his highest score this season in one-day cricket. By then Surrey were 212 for six.

They lost their last three wickets in four balls, on 231, to the off-spin of Neil Smith who had earlier suffered at the hands of Brown. Warwickshire's best bowling came from Dougie Brown who finished with four for 56.

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