Middlesex vs Surrey
LV=Insurance County Championship Division One
Day One Wednesday 19th July 2023
Surrey 312-5
Peter Moore at Lords
Jamie Smith picked up his second century of the summer to give LV=Insurance County Championship leaders Surrey the edge in the London Derby on the opening day of their match against Middlesex.
The youngster finished the day unbeaten on 120, with skipper Rory Burns hitting 79, with the hosts looking for their first red ball victory at headquarters since 1977.
On an overcast and humid morning, Middlesex won the toss and put Surrey in to bat. Middlesex made today a dementia friendly match day in conjunction with Dementia Carers Count.
The hosts struck early in the sixth over when Ryan Higgins trapped Dom Sibley(3). Higgins should have picked up a second in his opening spell when Tom Latham was put down by Sam Robson at first slip before he had opened his account.
Rory Burns and Latham took the score to 77 for 1 at lunch with Burns- who came into the game on the back of a pair against Nottinghamshire at the Kia Oval- 45 not out and Latham 23.
The afternoon session was greeted with welcome sunshine, with Captain Burns moving to a half century off 101 balls with his ninth century, completing his last fifty which came against the same opposition at the Oval in May.
The pair were eventually split when Latham(38) holed out into the deep off a bouncer from Tom Helm.
Burns had moved on to 79 when he edged Higgins to slip to leave Surrey 163 for 3. By the team had come around, Surrey were 189 for 3 with Jamie Smith closing in on a half century.
Smith soon reached his fifty after tea, in between Helm picking up the wickets of Ben Foakes(20) well caught at short leg by Higgins diving forward and Will Jacks(2) edging Helm behind to leave Surrey 240 for 5.
Smith received valuable support from Jordan Clarke, with Smith reaching his second century of the summer, coming off 137 balls.
By close of play, Smith had moved on to 120 with Clarke 34 and the pair adding an unbroken stand of 72 for the sixth wicket.