Clark century puts the hosts back on track with Surrey shading the opening days play


Surrey  V  Nottinghamshire

LV=County Championship Day One  Monday 10th July 2023

Surrey  339-8

Peter Moore at the Kia Oval

Jordan Clark struck his first century of the season as Surrey closed the day with their noses in front on 339-8 against a depleted Nottinghamshire bowling attack.

The all-rounder, hit a 107 and shared in a stand of 97 with Sean Abbott to guide Surrey to 339-8 at stumps after being 0-1 after the first over of play.

Nottinghamshire won the toss and elected to bowl first on a wicket that looked to have something in it for the bowlers.

This decision looked vindicated as early as the first over when Brett Hutton trapped Surrey skipper Rory Burns leg before second ball for a duck.

Despite suffering an early setback, Dom Sibley and Tom Lathan looked comfortable at the crease, with the pair adding 66 before Sibley became the first of two Surrey wickets to fall inside four balls.

Hutton produced a good delivery that Sibley(34) edged behind before Lyndon James had Jamie Smith caught behind for a second ball duck.

With Notts having their tails up, to cap a fine last hour for the visitors right on the stroke of lunch Latham(29) was trapped leg before with Notts claiming the honours in the first session with Surrey lunching on 70-4.

Will Jacks joined Foakes in the middle with the pair looking to rebuild the Surrey innings. The pair brought up a fifty partnership which developed into a stand of 60 which was broken when Jacks(35) came dancing down the wicket to a new spell from Dane Paterson and was caught behind.

For the third time in a day the home side put together a fifty partnership, with Jordan Clarke and Ben Foakes steering Surrey at tea on 200 for 5 with Clarke 47* and Foakes 42*.

Shortly after tea, Foakes(46) edged Paterson behind before another useful partnership began to flourish featuring Jordan Clark and Sean Abbott. Within touching distance of a century stand Clarke fell for 107, the fifth victim behind the stumps for Tom Moores.

Abbott went for 48 shortly before the close, but it was left to Jamie Overton and Tom Lawes to steer Surrey to the close on 339 for 8.