From champs to chumps... Surrey skittled for just 67

County champions Surrey were skittled yesterday for 67, their lowest Championship total at the oval for 56 years, as Jamie Porter and Sam Cook bowled Essex into a position of first-day dominance. By stumps, on a pitch that eased significantly in the second half of the day, the 2017 title-winners were 130 runs in front, with Murali Vijay and tom Westley putting on 146 in 43 overs for the second wicket to take Essex to 197 for two in reply. India test opener Vijay scored 80 from 127 balls, with 10 fours, before edging Jade Dernbach to wicketkeeper Ben Foakes, while Westley remained 93 not out. only ollie Pope, last out for 26 from 53 balls, and opener Rory Burns, who made 19 before falling in the 16th over, provided any resistance for Surrey.

Cricket Australia have closed their investigation into Moeen Ali’s claim he was called ‘osama’ during the opening test of the 2015 Ashes series after failing to unearth new details.

ANDY MURRAY is due to play in his penultimate tournament of 2018 at the Shenzhen Open today. The 31-year-old is scheduled to face Zhizhen Zhang of China. The winner will play top seed David Goffin of Belgium. Yesterday Cameron Norrie won in straight sets against China’s Di Wu. Norrie faces Borna Coric next. Elsewhere, British No 1 Jo Konta lost 7-5, 6-4 to Australia’s Ashleigh Barty at the Wuhan Open.