Cricket: Yorkshire count losses

Yorkshire 341 and forfeit

Surrey 39-1 dec and 306-9

Surrey win by 1 wkt

YORKSHIRE reacted angrily yesterday to an Indian Board of Control statement that claimed the Board had put no pressure upon Sachin Tendulkar to end his overseas professional contract prematurely.

Chandappa Nagaraj, the Indian Board secretary, said on Sunday: 'Tendulkar's decision to return to India to play in the prestigious Duleep Trophy tournament was entirely his own. Yorkshire officials had said that they were pleased to release Tendulkar to play in Indian competitions.'

Yorkshire's chief executive, Chris Hassell, replied that the club had already reluctantly agreed to release Tendulkar from his pounds 30,000 contract before the last match of the season, at Hove. On 4 August they heard from the Board that Tendulkar would be required to return on 21 August.

Hassell twice queried this and received a further message from Nagaraj on 17 August that stated unequivocally: 'Sachin Tendulkar has to play in the Duleep Trophy matches. These are selection trials before the selection of the team for the South African tour. I am afraid Sachin cannot miss these matches.'

As there was some evidence that the 19-year-old was homesick, Yorkshire probably felt there was little point in making an issue out of the contractual obligations. It may be some time before they sign another professional who is also contracted to the Indian Board.

Not that Tendulkar could have made much difference to the events here where Surrey, after a generous declaration by Martyn Moxon, were able to win by one wicket with two balls to spare. Dampness, after weekend rain, delayed the start till 11.45 when, after the two ritual declarations, Surrey were left to score 303 in what became 93 overs on a ground with short boundaries and against an attack carrying three uncapped bowlers.

Moxon was probably hoping for some assistance from the pitch but it played pretty much as it did on Friday, giving the bowlers a little assistance but not enough to inhibit batsmen determined on aggression.

Yorkshire started well enough when Paul Jarvis produced a superb break-back to rip out Neil Sargeant's off-stump. Darren Bicknell was leg-before padding up, which brought in Monte Lynch. Surrey's acting captain was set upon putting his side ahead of the rate, reasoning once that had been acheived they could, with care, get home.

Both Lynch and David Ward were caught on the boundary, swinging at the off-spinner; at tea Surrey needed 112 off 36 overs with six wickets standing but then lost both Graham Thorpe and Alistair Brown in one over to the returning Hartley. Martin Bicknell stood his ground when Yorkshire appealed vehemently for a slip catch off Hartley, bringing a few boos and catcalls.

With 35 needed, three wickets standing, Bicknell was run out by Moxon, Mark Feltham was leg-before on the same score; 21 were needed when Jarvis bowled Rudi Bryson and last man James Boiling joined Neil Kendrick with six overs remaining; another famous finish for Park Avenue.

(Photograph omitted)