Run Glut at the Rose Bowl, Hants v Surrey report

The happiest man after a week of friendly pre-season cricket at The Rose Bowl, must have been head groundsman Nigel Gray. Each of the matches included a glut of runs, and seemed a far distant cry from the problems of the 2002 season.

Hampshire and Surrey completed a two day encounter that saw 787 runs scored, with Surrey running out victors in the one innings per side match by 4 wickets.

The format was that each side would bat for 100 overs each. Hampshire 60, and Surrey 40 on the first day. Then both sides to complete their innings on the second day with Hampshire receiving 40 overs and Surrey 60.

James Hamblin opened the innings for the second time this week, a sign that Hampshire may be looking to use him in this roll. On both occasions he was successful. On Thursday he struck 53, not in his usual pinch-hitting style he has become know for, but more a sensible opening batsman roll. He shared with Derek Kenway a partnership of 132, Kenway hitting a belligerent 71 with 13 fours.

Robin Smith, free of the shackles of captaincy then took over with a sparkling 80, smitting some vintage boundaries on the way before charging the persistent Salisbury. Alex Morris who struggled with injury all last season then took the innings to it's conclusion on the second day with 100*. He tempered aggression with sound defence. Nick Saker was the pick of the Surrey bowlers taking 4 wickets, and Alex Tudor showed some accuracy.

Surrey's array of batsmen showed why they start the season favorites to retain their Frizzell Championship title, particularly the England pair of Mark Ramprakash and Graham Thorpe. The Hampshire attack without their new overseas signing Wasim Akram looked bewildered, as the pair struck the ball to all parts of the outfield and beyond, taking particular interest in the short boundary into the groundsman's area.

James Hamblin finally found the edge of Thorpe's bat, but it was no respite to the bowlers as Ali Brown then took the mantle scoring a quick fire 75 in 51 balls. Ramprakash felt he had enough, being dropped by Mullally when on 100, he decided to retire at 130, to give some of the lower order a chance to take some practise.

Nadim Shahid and Ali Brown then took the opportunity to pass Hampshire's score with some 15 overs spare.

Surrey continued on beyond the result to gain another century of runs but against Hampshire's lesser bowlers in a futile exercise.