Surrey Lions beat the Lancashire Lightening in lightening quick time yesterday. As a foretaste to 20-over cricket, less than 33 overs of high-speed action were required to deliver a result, which was that the home side won by six wickets.

Even after a few autographs were signed and several photo opportunities satisfied, the players and spectators still had enough time to watch the second half of the First Division play-off final between the two cities - Birmingham and Norwich.

Whether 20-over slogs, or indeed inter city cricket are the answer to flagging attendances, it has to be remarked that the crowd for the first Norwich Union League game of the summer was three or possibly four times what one would expect to see on a normal championship match day. It would seem that Surrey’s policy of allowing under 17s in for nothing, which applies to all county games at the AMP Oval, is finally catching parents’ attention.

Despite winning the toss and electing to bat, the visitors were bowled out for 68 in 20.4 overs, thus equalling their lowest ever score in the National League. Martin Bicknell’s 5-26 was the best performance by a Surrey bowler against Lancashire in the Sunday League, in addition to being the 33-year-old fast bowler’s third five-wicket haul in the competition.

Ed Giddins was unlucky to have been overshadowed by Bicknell. He gave nothing away, had Glen Chapple caught behind off the last ball of the second over and accounted for David Byas in similar fashion eight overs later to collect his first scalps of the new season.

But it was Martin Bicknell’s day. It started with the trapping of Mark Chilton leg before, playing forward and across the line, and Andrew Flintoff being caught behind. Then, in the fifteenth over, came three more wickets.

Bicknell had Michael Carberry, stationed at point, to thank for his third and fourth. Stuart Law was caught low to Carberry’s right off a full-blooded drive, whereas Tim Roberts aimed the second ball he received at the youngster’s midriff. Next, Graham Lloyd ensured it was a good day for both bowler and wicketkeeper by chasing a wide delivery and being taken in front of first and second slip by the ever-youthful Alec Stewart.

Philip Sampson, invited to party late, took care of Chris Schofield, caught at square leg off a toe-ended on drive, prior to diving full-length to his left to pull off a stunning return catch off Warren Hegg who was the Lightening’s top scorer with 17.

The visitors were all out in the following over. In addition to Martin Bicknell the Lions players applauded Azhar Mahmood - making his final appearance for Surrey - off the field. He may have only taken one wicket yesterday, but many involved with the club would be pleased to see the Pakistani all-rounder back at the AMP Oval next year.

Following an interruption for rain Alistair Brown signalled his side’s intentions by planting Peter Martin over extra cover for six before falling to a well judged catch at wide mid-on next ball. Lancashire were still in the match when Ian Ward was squared up in Martin’s next over, but then Ramprakash and Stewart picked up where they left off in the championship.

The pair added 31 in 18 minutes before Alec Stewart was run out by a direct throw from deep extra cover from Flintoff. Up to that point it had been a very productive over with Mark Ramprakash hitting Chapple for two off-side boundaries before calling his partner for a third fatal run.

The end came at 4:18pm when Ramprakash and Carberry saw their side home after a brief but entertaining knock from Nadeem Shahid.

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