ESSEX V SURREY at Chelmsford (B&H Cup), 2 MAY 2002

Surrey, who badly need to get back to winning ways, have only tasted victory twice in the last eight one-day encounters with Essex to go the distance. But as we have seen against Middlesex and Hampshire, recent history counts for nothing.

In their only limited-overs game this season Essex beat Sussex thanks to Messrs Duckworth & Lewis plus one Ronnie Irani. The Scimitars skipper followed his 47 off 88 balls with figures of 5/36 and, therefore, represents the visitors’ main danger today.

If Essex appear to have a weakness it is the lack of support for Irani in the bowling department. Jonathan Dakin, who has made strides with the ball since joining from Leicestershire, is the only other who can claim to be in form.

But runs are not a problem for the Chelmsford outfit. Paul Grayson and Aftab Habib contributed in the win over Sussex and prior to that Darren Robinson and Andy Flower spent a good deal of time at the crease against Gloucestershire in the championship.

Can I be wrong for a third time running? I sincerely hope not. Surrey to take advantage of Essex’s ordinary-looking bowling attack.

Martin Bicknell missed yesterday’s game against Hampshire, but hopes the treatment on his back will have loosened it up enough for him to feature today.

J Stephenson, J Dakin, G Napier, A Flower, R Irani, A Habib, A Grayson, D Robinson, A Cowan, J Middlebrook and A Clarke.

5 May 2001	B&H	Won By 6 Wickets	The Oval
23 Aug 2000	NL	Lost By 23 Runs	Colchester
29 May 2000	NL	No Result	The Oval
15 Apr 2000	B&H	No Result	Chelmsford
14 Jun 1998	NL	Lost By 26 Runs	Chelmsford
8 Jun 1997	NL	Lost By 6 Wickets	The Oval
27 May 1997	B&H	Won By 6 Wickets	Chelmsford
13 Aug 1996	NWT	Lost By 4 Wickets	The Oval
30 Jun 1996	NL	Lost By 27 Runs	Southend
9 Jul 1995	NL	Lost By 61 Runs	The Oval
14 Aug 1994	NL	Won By 6 Wickets	Colchester
16 May 1993	NL	Won By 2 Wickets	The Oval
26 Apr 1992	NL	Lost By 10 Wickets	Chelmsford

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