Surrey Lions promoted as Essex Eagles collapse in NUL

A remarkable collapse by Essex Eagles saw Surrey Lions snatch a memorable victory - and promotion - at Chelmsford in the second division NUL battle.

The Essex Eagles remain in a promotion position too, but if they should miss out in the last couple of games of the season (Northants Steelbacks could still catch them, though they missed a golden opportunity today, going down to Lancashire Lightning) this is the day they will rue.

Though Surrey Lions (whose final game is a tough encounter against the top team, Gloucestershire Gladiators) could be caught by either the Eagles or Steelbacks, the fact that the two chasing sides have to play each other means that Surrey are assured of first division NUL cricket next year.

Eagles were poised at 137-4, chasing just another 26 to reach the 163 required for victory with Ronnie Irani well set on 41. But when Martin Bicknell (2-28 from nine overs) bowled the Eagles captain, ending a stand of 74 with Paul Grayson, it precipitated a dramatic collapse.

Adam Hollioake (3-11) had Grayson and Jon Dakin caught behind to drag his side back into the game but even at 159-7 the home side should have won.

But Ed Giddins (3-43) bowled Mark Pettini and Ashley Cowan on that score and Hollioake, impressive as ever under pressure, trapped Joe Grant with the score on 160 to earn the visitors victory by two runs.

Earlier it had appeared as if the Eagles had done enough when they restricted Surrey Lions to a disappointing 162 all out.

The Lions, inserted by Essex, were soon struggling at 7-2 with both openers back in the pavilion. Mark Ramprakash and England's new boy Rikki Clarke tried to rebuild, but the youngster became Ronnie Irani's second wicket and Ramprakash fell to Graham Napier to leave the Lions in some trouble at 42-4.

Adam Hollioake was in belligerent mood, however, and determined to seize the initiative. He struck three fours and a pair of sixes in rushing to 27 but fell to just his 16th ball to set the Lions back once again at 82-6.

Nadeem Shahid, Jon Batty and Martin Bicknell fell to the deserving Joe Grant - who finished with 3-28 - and it was left to Saqlain Mushtaq to give the innings some respectability with a top score of 28. He was well supported by Tim Murtagh in a partnership of 32 for the ninth wicket, but when Ashley Cowan returned to the attack he soon dismissed both Saqlain and Ed Giddins to wrap up the innings and end with the highly commendable figures of 4-16.