Surrey begin effectively in large run chase in opposition to Kent

Surrey want one other 238 in what can be their highest-ever run chase after an excellent century by Jamie Smith gave them an opportunity of creating historical past within the County Championship.

Kent had been all out for 344 simply earlier than lunch, a lead of precisely 500, as Jordan Clark took 5-79, however solely after Hamid Qadri had hit a extremely entertaining 72 and placed on 117 in an important stand with Joey Evison.

Nevertheless, having misplaced simply two wickets within the final two classes Surrey stand a great opportunity of overhauling their earlier highest chase, which was in opposition to Kent on the similar venue in 2002 once they completed on 410-8.

Surrey started a pulsating third day with hopes of getting Kent’s last 4 wickets cheaply, however Qadri survived a dicey early spell, smacked Sean Abbott for six over cow nook and introduced up his 50 with a heave previous the bowler, Gus Atkinson, for 4.

By the point Clark took three wickets for no runs within the area of 5 balls, Kent’s lead was already 445 and the seventh-wicket stand that exasperated Surrey solely got here to an finish when Evison was caught by Smith off Clark for 42.

Clark then bowled Wes Agar, promoted up the order, for a second-ball duck and Qadri’s enjoyable lastly ended when he hit the identical bowler to Jacks on the boundary, however the last-wicket pair of Arshdeep Singh and Matt Quinn then placed on 53.

Arshdeep hit fours off his first two balls and Quinn made 37 from 22 balls, together with three sixes earlier than Clark bowled him.

Simply because it seemed like Surrey’s morning couldn’t get any worse, within the two-over mini-session earlier than lunch, Rory Burns edged to Jack Leaning at second slip and Latham was practically run out.

He survived by an inch and the let off appeared to remind Surrey of the self-discipline they would want as he and Sibley batted via the complete afternoon.

They solely seemed susceptible when Qadri got here on, however his earlier luck abandoned him as he had Latham dropped twice, by Ben Compton and Agar, within the area of two overs.

He lastly obtained his man when Daniel Bell-Drummond took a diving catch at mid-on shortly after tea however whereas Sibley continued to attain steadily, Smith then began flaying the bowlers.

He was on 77 when he lower Quinn and Compton couldn’t maintain a tough catch and he reached three figures from 70 balls when he smashed Joe Denly’s first ball for six over lengthy on.

A wave of reduction went spherical the bottom when Arshdeep despatched his off stump flying to finish a stand of 138 however with Foakes becoming a member of Sibley and taking eight off the ultimate over, it left Kent members with lengthy recollections fearing one thing even worse than their defeat 21 years in the past, when Ian Ward and Jimmy Ormond placed on 97 for the eighth wicket to steer Surrey dwelling.

Report equipped by ECB Reporters’ Community.