The Northamptonshire Steelbacks took full advantage of Surrey’s decision to keep their leading players fresh for today’s re-arranged Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy semi-final at Headingley.

As expected the Lions’ makeshift eleven came off second best to the combined clout of Mal Loye and company. However, David Ward, the former Surrey favourite and now cricket master at Whitgift School rolled back the years and, just like the late afternoon sunshine in which it was struck, lit up yesterday’s contest with a stirring 78 off 52 balls. Unfortunately, it was not enough to propel his team to victory.

After a second and more prolonged shower had delayed the start of the home side’s reply the vagaries of Duckworth-Lewis threw up a target of 265 in 29 overs. Even if they had been equipped with the big guns of Brown and Hollioake the Lions would have been severely tested, so the prospect of them making twelve runs less in eleven fewer overs was as likely as the pupils voting for more greens. But, thanks principally to Ward’s efforts Surrey did at least give it their best shot.

Almost six years to the day since making his last appearance for the county, the 41-year-old struck fourteen fours and one six, handing his side a rousing platform of 89 in twelve overs with the aid of Scott Newman.

Newman, who has already made 1,700 runs in second eleven cricket this summer, reeled off cut fours in each of the first two overs. He then backfoot drove Carl Greenidge through the covers and hit Cousins straight before cutting Greenidge again in the sixth over, which also saw the fifty partnership.

The pair were only separated when Tony Penberthy switched ends and had the 21-year-old left-hander caught at the wicket.

David Ward was still there, though, and three overs later he picked up Jason Brown over square leg for six. But Brown had the last laugh when Ward attempted another straight drive and was caught at long-off to give the spinner the first of three vital wickets.

Ward’s departure left the Lions needing 140 in less than twelve overs. What remained of the old and the new lasted another ten, mustering just 37 runs in the process. The only bright moment came four overs from the end when 19-year-old James Benning swept Graeme Swann over the deep square leg boundary for six. But the tail had no answer to Jeff Cook’s variations in pace.

Even though three players were making their first team debuts – Benning, Danny Miller and Ben Scott – the average age of the Surrey side was twenty-five thanks to David Ward’s advanced years. It therefore did not seem too much to expect more athleticism in the field, but, apart from Michael Carberry, Surrey’s bowlers lacked support.

Mal Loye, who was dropped on 86 at deep square leg, off the medium-pace of James Benning, recorded the division’s third century of the season. After also top scoring when Surrey travelled to Northampton in June, Loye made an unbeaten 101 in 111 deliveries. He was the first to take a boundary off 18-year-old Danny Miller, in the youngster’s sixth over, and later struck sixteen runs in three balls off Rupesh Amin’s tame-looking left-arm spin.

In partnership with David Sales he also added 124 in exactly 100 balls. Sales, who was educated just down the road from Whitgift at Cumnor House, contributed 67 including ten boundaries. He led to Benning to be withdrawn from the Surrey attack by on driving the England Under 19 all-rounder - who later returned to dismiss both him and Penberthy - for successive fours.

Matt Cassar announced his first appearance of the season in the Norwich Union League with an unremitting 54 off 38 balls, which included two consecutive maximums off Ian Salisbury’s penultimate over followed by an identical straight six in his last. But, by that time, the visitors had already made more than enough.

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