Bicknell leads the masterclass

Nottinghamshire 211 and 176 Surrey 393 <i>Surrey win by an innings and six runs</i>

Mick Newell, the Nottinghamshire coach, expects his First Division newcomers to "learn some valuable lessons" after they were given a masterclass in four-day cricket by the victorious county champions, Surrey, on a tricky wicket here yesterday.

Mick Newell, the Nottinghamshire coach, expects his First Division newcomers to "learn some valuable lessons" after they were given a masterclass in four-day cricket by the victorious county champions, Surrey, on a tricky wicket here yesterday.

Surrey wrapped up their first win of the season with five full sessions to spare after Nottinghamshire failed by six runs to oblige them to bat for a second time. Only a breezy half-century by the South African bowler, Steve Elworthy, detained them past mid-day after the home side had resumed their second innings six down and still 88 behind.

"With several players missing I knew we would have to work very hard batting-wise but I didn't expect us to be outbowled as well," Newell said. "There was enough experience in our seam attack to exploit conditions that we are well familiar with but we fell short of the required standard.

"But we'll study the videos, particularly of Martin Bicknell, and we can learn a lot from the way Surrey bowled compared with ourselves."

Bicknell, wicketless in the first innings, was rewarded for his consistent line and length with second-innings figures of 5 for 83 after sharing yesterday's spoils with Pakistan's Azhar Mahmood, whose skiddy leg-cutters made him the most dangerous bowler on view.

Dismissed for 211 on Friday, Nottinghamshire were then savagely punished first by Alec Stewart and then Azhar himself, both players falling on 98.

Inconsistent bounce and awkward sideways movement helped the Surrey bowlers with only Jason Gallian among the home batsmen able to get on top but the home side could not exploit the conditions and a first-innings lead of 182 put Surrey in complete control.

After the home side's collapse to 76 for 6 on Saturday evening, victory yesterday was a formality for Surrey. To rub salt in their wounds, Notts, who had led the table ahead of this match, were docked 0.25 points for a slow over rate.