Surrey 152 for six (Pollard 34, Dawson 2-21) beat Hampshire 151 for 7 (Fuller 39*, Overton 2-21) by means of 4 wickets
It was once a soupçon at easiest, the merest trace that Pollard, at 35, can nonetheless have many explosive moments in retailer, however his 34 from 22 was once very important to increase Surrey’s report of 8 consecutive wins and care for their supremacy within the South Group. Hampshire, buoyant after 4 successive victories, made them paintings on a very good pitch providing tempo and soar earlier than conceding a four-wicket margin with 5 balls to spare.
Pollard had no longer performed in this floor since, and he appeared bent upon exacting pleasurable revenge till Joe Weatherley ended his innings with a flying grasp to his proper at deep sq. leg after James Fuller were deposited into the leg aspect. Pollard smoothed in opposition to the pavilion with a philosophical nod of the top in reputation of the standard of the catch. he had left Surrey handiest 22 runs quick with 26 balls and 5 wickets last, they usually reverted to an method of minimum possibility to chip them off.
Such has been Pollard’s lean run that his 34 was once his best go back since he made 41 in opposition to England in Barbados in January. He has been a key part in Mumbai Indians’ 5 IPL crowns since 2010, however he completed the newest marketing campaign with handiest 144 runs beneath his belt at a median of 14.40 and a strike charge of 107.46 – his lowest strike charge in any IPL season. With Surrey so dominant, he had had little probability to switch the narrative and were restricted to a couple of cameos, preserving his recreation in trim with the hope of larger issues to return.
Fuller’s fast-medium was once then whipped by way of mid-off two times in a row with superior energy. Nathan Ellis was once swatted by way of sq. leg as an irritant no longer value his attention. The acquainted Pollard was once by means of then in mode: the saunter down the pitch and the dismissive little contact of the highest of his thigh pad to verify that issues have been going neatly. Rory Burns, at that time, simply performed the supporting function of token glove puncher, however he had the nous to stay round in understated type till the fit was once received. The decisive second got here with 8 runs wanted from seven balls, at which level the Australian Ellis attempted to dance out Chris Jordan and the ball whistled for 6.
Hampshire were inserted on a pitch that to start with was once so fast the fit may had been rescheduled for Perth. James Vince, at the again of an elegant century on Friday evening, was once dropped by means of Burns on 19 when he drilled Gus Atkinson to backward level, nevertheless it was once no longer overly pricey: Jamie Overton’s recognition is rising and the considered a brief ball on a quick pitch brought about Vince to believe to the again foot and be lbw to a fullish one. The heart order faltered in opposition to Sunil Narine and Jordan, the latter taking a shocking go back catch to disregard Ross Whiteley. It took Fuller’s elan (39 no longer out from 22 balls) to submit a significant rating.
Overton, who hopes to make his Test debut at Headingley, had a combined afternoon. He added a 2d wicket when Weatherley pulled him to deep sq. leg, however on a pitch that suited him right down to the bottom, he didn’t reasonably compile the hostility that may had been anticipated.
Perhaps with a Test debut at the horizon he was once being quite conservative in his method, possibly he was once taking a steady-away strategy to the shorter layout. Whichever it was once, it was once a aid to find that after he fell over in his follow-through in his 3rd over no hurt was once carried out.