Old firm of Slater and Taylor dig in

New South Wales 398-7 dec Surrey 57-1

New South Wales 398-7 dec Surrey 57-1

New South Wales enjoyed some valuable pre-season batting practice on the opening day of their three-day match at The Oval.

However, no New South Wales batsman really got going and the only century recorded was in runs conceded by the Surrey off-spinner Andy Smith, who did at least pick up a couple of wickets for his effort.

There were still plenty of runs, though. The Australian captain, Mark Taylor, and his Test opening partner Michael Slater put on 133 for the first wicket, each man passing 50, and Kevin Roberts - a hard hitting upper-order batsman - also made a half century.

Slater made a punchy 69 off 83 balls including a big six into the May Enclosure which resulted in a lengthy search for the ball. Taylor's 61 was more circumspect, occupying more than two-and-a-half-hours. Roberts was more rapid in making 53. Thereafter it was much of a muchness with Essex's Mark Waugh hitting 45, Mark Patterson 46 and the former Test player, Greg Matthews, 40.