SURREY END GLOUCESTERSHIRE'S RUN OF SUCCESS

Gloucestershire's batsmen struggled all along after taking a cautious approach in their attempt to reach the winning target of 245. Scoring at the rate of three an over, they had scored 35 in the 12th over when when they lost their first wicket.

Ed Giddens, having replaced Alex Tudor, whose five economical overs had cost only seven, struck straight away by bowling veteran batsman Kim Barnett with his third ball. Barnett, who first played in a Lord's final 20 years ago, managed just three from 30 balls.

In the next seven overs, Gloucestershire, the cup holders, added 33 runs before losing their second wicket. Dominic Hewson, 11, was caught at mid-off from a leading edge off Saqlain Mushtaq.

Surrey were quick to strike again, seven balls later with the total on 71. This was a major setback for Gloucestershire as their Australian signing, the limited-overs specialist Ian Harvey, was dismissed for one, lbw to Giddens who then knocked back the off stump of Matthew Windows for ten to reduce them to 89 for four.

Jack Russell, meanwhile, who had aopened the innings, kept picking up the runs steadily, reaching 48 after 25 overs, when the total was 92 for four. At that stage Gloucestershire's only substantial partnership took place with Russell and Mark Alleyne adding 42 in 47 balls.

But with Russell's determined effort ending on 62 off 96 balls and two runs later with Alleyne offering a return catch from a full toss to Saqlain Mushtaq, there seemed little hope for the champions of one-day cricket.

Saqlain went on to claim the next wicket, the seventh, on 161 and then the last three fell rapidly in 16 balls for seven runs with 4.1 overs still remaining. Tudor's, Giddens' and Saqlain's excellent bowling gave them three wickets apiece.

Earlier, in an uninterrupted day's play, despite the threat from dark clouds for most of the morning, the Hollioake brothers had taken on the task of reviving Surrey halfway through their innings after their side had faltered to 118 for five. They had been largely responsible for Surrey reaching 244 before being dismissed with just one ball remaining.

During their stand of 84, Ben reached his half-century in style with a six to wide mid-wicket, from 54 balls, and with the next ball he brought up the 200.

The stand was broken when Martyn Ball, with his off-spin, had Adam Hollioake leg before for 39, attempting a reverse sweep, and then he struck again in his next over, getting another lbw decision, against Tudor. He had taken two in four balls without conceding a run and Surrey were 204 for seven.

Ian Ward and Mark Ramprakash had ensured that Surrey did not suffer too much from the loss of Mark Butcher's wicket after they had decided to bat first when play began half-an-hour late owing to wet conditions.

With Butcher trapped leg before wicket, without scoring, in the third over, Ward and Ramprakash put on 64 from only 60 balls before Ramprakash, 39, was caught at deep square leg from a pull off Alleyne. It was an entertaining knock, containing six boundaries and an all-run four from the 33 balls that he had faced.

But Surrey then lost three wickets for just 26 runs with the Gloucestershire captain Alleyne, whose first over was hit for 13, inflicting the damage. He had Alec Stewart caught at mid-off for eight from a casually played drive and eight runs later, on 97, Surrey lost Alistair Brown for three with Ian Harvey taking the catch. It was a poor shot; he drove well away from his body and edged to slip.

With that wicket Alleyne had three for eight in a superb spell of 24 balls. The big blow then came in the 25th over when Mark Hardinges, with his second ball, had Ward caught behind for 54. It was a fine knock, from 59 balls and contained five boundaries.

But the invaluable innings for Surrey was the Gold Award winner Ben Hollioake's 73 from 76 balls. He was eventually dismissed in the penultimate before Surrey lost their last two wickets off successive balls.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE STRUGGLING IN RUN CHASE

Scoring at the rate of three an over, they had scored 35 in the 12th over when they lost their first wicket. Ed Giddens, having replaced Alex Tudor whose five economical overs had cost only seven, struck straight away by bowling veteran batsman Kim Barnett with his third ball. Barnett had made seven from 30 balls

In the next seven overs, Gloucestershire, the cup holders, added 33 runs before losing their second wicket. Dominic Hewson, 11, was caught at mid-off from a leading edge off Saqlain Mushtaq.

Surrey were quick to strike again, seven balls later with the total on 71. This was a major setback for Gloucestershire, as their Australian signing, the limited-overs specialist Ian Harvey, was dismissed for one, lbw to Giddens who then knocked back the off stump of Matthew Windows for ten and Gloucestershire were 89 for four.

Jack Russell, meanwhile, kept picking up the runs steadily, reaching 48 after 25 overs with the total on 92 for four.

HOLLIOAKES COMBINE TO REVIVE SURREY

During their stand of 84, Ben reached his half-century in style with a six to wide mid-wicket, from 54 balls, and with the next ball he brought up the 200.

The stand was broken when Martyn Ball, with his off-spin, had Adam Hollioake leg before for 39, attempting a reverse sweep, and then he struck again in his next over, getting another lbw decision against Alex Tudor. He had taken two in four balls without conceding a run and Surrey were 204 for seven.

But the invaluable innings for Surrey was Ben Hollioake's 73 from 76 balls which threatened Gloucestershire in their attempt to win a fifth consecutive Lord's final. He was eventually dismissed in the penultimate over before Surrey lost their last two wickets off successive balls.

SURREY WICKETS TUMBLE AFTER RAMPRAKASH CAMEO

After Butcher was trapped leg before wicket without scoring, in the third over, Ward and Ramprakash put on 64 from only sixty balls before Ramprakash, 39, was caught at deep square leg from a pull off Mark Alleyne. It was an entertaining knock, containing six boundaries and an all-run four from the 33 balls that he had faced.

But Surrey then lost three wickets for just 26 runs with the Gloucestershire captain Alleyne, whose first over was hit for 13, doing the damage. He had Alec Stewart caught at mid-off for eight from a casually played drive and eight runs later, on 97, Surrey lost Alistair Brown for three with Ian Harvey taking the catch. It was a poor shot; he drove well away from his body and edged to slip.

With that wicket Alleyne had three for eight in a superb spell of 24 balls. The big blow then came in the 25th over when Mark Hardinges, with his second ball, had Ward caught behind for 54. It was an invaluable innings from 59 balls and Surrey were 118 for five. At the end of that over they were 121 without further loss.

THORPE MISSING AS SURREY WIN TOSS AND OPT TO BAT

He has been out of action for nearly six weeks with a calf injury and only resumed training on Thursday.

However, last night Keith Medlycott, the Surrey coach, thought there might be an outside chance of him playing today but that possibility was ruled out this morning.

There was some good news for Surrey as pace bowler Alex Tudor, who missed the midweek C&G match at Headingley with a side strain, was pronounced fit enough to play.

As expected, Gloucestershire were without injured bowlers Jon Lewis and Mike Smith, with all-rounder Mark Hardinges being selected.

Rain delayed the start of the game by half an hour but Surrey's Adam Hollioake won the toss and opted to bat, though he admitted he wasn't sure what to do.

The groundsman felt the pitch would be excellent for batting but there is often movement early in the day at Lord's.

He said: "I think both sides are not quite sure what to do today. We tend to bat when we're not quite sure what to do."

© CricInfo

Date-stamped : 14 Jul2001 - 22:25