Hollioake's power play inspires Surrey charge

Surrey 268-8 Essex 253 Surrey win by 15 runs

A savage partnership of 154 in just 127 balls between Adam Hollioake and Azhar Mahmood ensured that Surrey Lions' National League First Division season started in impressive style here yesterday when they beat a resolute Essex Eagles side by 15 runs.

In a riveting game, which provided a decent-sized crowd with plenty to keep them warm on a cold, overcast afternoon, it was the greater experience of the Lions which saw them home. In their wisdom the England and Wales Cricket Board has brought in a new form of the game, Twenty20 cricket, to attract young people to county cricket, but it is debatable whether it could provide better entertainment than this match.

The appearance of the England captain, Nasser Hussain, at his home ground for the first time this season should have been enough to spring several of Surrey's all-star side into action. With few opportunities to impress before the England selectors pick their first squad of the summer, this was an occasion for Ian Ward, Mark Ramprakash and Graham Thorpe to catch the captain's eye. However, each fluffed their chance against modest Essex bowling.

They were not the only ones to fail on a pitch offering lateral movement for the medium pace of Jonathan Dakin and Graham Napier, who had earlier reduced the Lions to 82 for 6. At that stage, almost half way through their allotted 45 overs, the south Londoners looked anything but eventual victors. However, when found in a rut, Hollioake and Azhar decided not to dig but to come out and play in a positive manner. Hollioake took 11 runs off the first three balls he faced while his Pakistani team-mate successfully manoeuvred the ball into the gaps looking for singles.

Hollioake, overlooked in the World Cup and, seemingly, as the next England one-day captain, struck the ball with alarming power. One shot, a straight six off the left-arm spinner Paul Grayson, nearly took your correspondent out when it smashed a window in the press box. Such stroke-play encouraged Azhar to play with a similar style and for the next half-hour the two all-rounders appeared to be having a private shoot out as the ball pinged around this small ground.

Both players brought their fifties up with sixes but it was Azhar who completed the task of seeing the Lions to 268 despite falling two runs short of a deserved century in his first National League innings for his adopted county.

Essex's response started in blistering style with the giant figure of Will Jefferson showing he has wonderful touch as well as awesome power. At 6ft 10in Jefferson is a hard man to get on the back foot, which is something neither Martin Bicknell or Mahmood managed to do during his 36 ball stay.

During the first 16 deliveries he faced he struck seven fours as the Eagles brought up their 50. These boundaries did not come through slogging but well-timed drives and clips off his legs. On 47, though, the pace of Alex Tudor did stop his left foot advancing down the pitch and he was trapped in front.

Andy Flower followed and Essex looked out of it despite Hussain being joined by the inspirational Ronnie Irani. He carried on scoring after Hussain tried to run a Saqlain Mushtaq ball that was too close to him to fine leg and was bowled.

Irani's departure to Ricky Clarke failed to stop the scoring as James Foster showed he can play one-day as well as Test cricket. After hitting three fours in the 33rd over Essex still had a chance, but when the wicket-keeper chipped Tudor to long-off the Eagles had to accept that it was not going to be their day.