Kumar Sangakkara Brings Surrey Closer To Title

Surrey remained in total control of their LV= Division Two match at Old Trafford and by the close of third day had set Lancashire 492 to win and thereby achieve the most unlikely of victories. Should Surrey’s bowlers dismiss the home side they will clinch the title less than 48 hours before they play Gloucestershire in the final of the Royal London Cup.

Having dismissed Lancashire for 272 in their first innings, Surrey skipper Gareth Batty opted not to enforce the follow-on but allowed his batsmen free rein to make 283 for 7 declared in their second innings, Kumar Sangakkara stroking a superb 118. Lancashire were 22 without loss in their second innings at close of play.

In the morning session Surrey took Lancashire’s last five first-innings wickets for the addition of 131 runs with the last pair, James Anderson and Simon Kerrigan adding 65 for the last wicket before Anderson was bowled by Tom Curran for 42. Kerrigan remained unbeaten on 23.

Earlier in the session, spectators at Old Trafford had been given another glimpse of the precocious talent of 17-year-old Sam Curran.

After his brother, Tom, had taken the vital wicket of Ashwell Prince, caught by first slip Sangakkara for 45, the younger Curran removed Jordan Clark leg before for 29 and Tom Bailey, yorked first ball to collect the second five-wicket haul of his five-match career.

Then Arron Lilley was caught at midwicket by Matt Dunn off Gareth Batty for 33 before Kerrigan was joined by Anderson in a stand which saw Lancashire collect their second batting bonus point. Sam Curran finished with a career-best 5 for 67.

In their second innings Surrey’s batsmen were frequently able to score at will, particularly Sangakkara, who reached his hundred off 115 balls with 13 fours.

Surrey were 161 for 2 at tea and the two wickets to fall were those of Ben Foakes, who was leg before to Tom Bailey for 14, and Rory Burns, who was caught at midwicket by James Anderson off Simon Kerrigan for 44.

In the evening session Surrey traded wickets for runs and Lancashire skipper Steven Croft collected four cheap wickets for 35 runs in seven overs. No batsmen apart from Sangakkara scored more than fifty but Gary Wilson was 30 not out when Batty finally declared.

Lancashire have never scored more than 404 to win in the fourth innings of a game and the chances of them winning this game are on the far side of slim. By close of play the Division Two trophy was on its way to Old Trafford in case Surrey are able to force a victory on the final afternoon (espncricinfo)