Iron will of Irani
Surrey 437 and 123-2 Essex 493
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Your support makes all the difference.BAT has held sway over ball throughout this match, in particular the broad, straight, thumping variety in the hands of Ronnie Irani. The Essex all-rounder inflicted a few more dents in the pride of Surrey, languishing at the bottom of the table, as he recorded the third century of his career with a fine selection of crashing drives and lusty pulls.
Irani dominated the morning session, getting into his stride quickly by hitting Mark Butcher for three fours in one over. Richard Nowell, a slow left-armer playing his first season for Surrey, was more parsimonious, spearing the ball in at leg stump.
Adam Hollioake, captaining Surrey for the first time, had no hesitation in taking the new ball which was due. But this did not stop Irani clattering Carl Rackemann for 18 runs in his first over and then taking three fours off the next from Joey Benjamin. In all, 45 runs came off the first 23 deliveries with the new ball, as Irani reached 50 for the sixth time this season.
Nasser Hussain was positively becalmed by comparison. He fell for 137 tickling a catch down the leg side to the wicketkeeper Graham Kersey.
Alex Tudor, a gangling 17-year-old pace bowler playing only his second championship match, helped to stem the tide as he bowled a far more disciplined line and length and was unlucky not to pick up a wicket.
At lunch, as Graham Gooch signed copies of his autobiography in front of the pavilion, Essex must have been anticipating a substantial lead. But the visitors had not reckoned with Rackemann, a changed man after the interval, ripping out Essex's lower order with a spell of three for 5 off 14 balls.
Irani flourished briefly once more, hitting a towering straight six off Nowell. But when he was out chipping a catch to midwicket off the same bowler, Essex could muster a lead of only 56.
Surrey suffered an early setback in reply, losing Jason Ratcliffe to a blow on the helmet. But batting looks easy enough on this wicket and by the close Surrey had ambled to a lead of 67 with the aid of leisurely 50s from Darren Bicknell and Mark Butcher.
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