Somerset deny the champions
Surrey fell short in an exciting fourth-day run chase against Somerset as their Vitality County Championship Division One match ended in a draw.
Chasing 209 in 19 overs, Dan Lawrence and Jamie Smith hit 32 off the seventh and eight overs to take their stand to 90 and set up the prospect of a first win of the season for the champions.
But Surrey lost five wickets in the next five overs to stop their charge and they settled for a draw at the Oval.
Play did not start until 12.10pm and when Surrey took the new ball Somerset’s lead was only 100.
But Somerset captain Lewis Gregory, resuming on 23, hit a 188ball 80 in his side’s second-innings 351.
Gregory had come in on day three with his side five wickets down and only nine runs in front, but he got good support from Kasey Aldridge (42) and Craig Overton (52 not out) in four-and-a-quarter hours at the crease.
Gregory took the lead beyond 200 before his vigil ended somewhat tamely with a cut to point, but he appeared to have taken victory away from Surrey.
That proved to be the case, but Somerset were made to sweat by Lawrence and Smith.
Smith twice hit Craig Overton back over his head into the pavilion and pulled a short ball from Migael Pretorius over mid-wicket for his third six, but trying to clear long on off the first ball of the ninth over he was well caught by Matt Renshaw running in from the boundary for 45 off 25 balls.
Ollie Pope slashed the second delivery of the 10th over from Aldridge over point for six but he was bowled later in the over attempting a repeat.
Aldridge picked up two wickets in the 12th over as Jamie Overton slogged one in the air and skipper Rory Burns was caught on the boundary for a four-ball duck.
Gregory then held a steepler to remove Dom Sibley off his own bowling.
Lawrence was unbeaten on 53 from 34 balls when the players shook hands with five overs left and Surrey 123 for five.
Speaking afterwards, Somerset head coach Jason Kerr said: “Apart from about 40 minutes on day one we have been outstanding in this game. We showed a lot of resilience. We were close to shutting the game down but then we gave them a bit of a sniff. But Lewis Gregory and Kasey Aldridge bowled really well and I thought a draw was a fair result over four days.
“Kasey has been outstanding today with his bowling and batting today. He showed a lot of maturity under immense pressure. He’s grown as a cricketer already this season.”