Lancashire race to victory over leaders Surrey – BBC Sport

Tom Bailey and Will Williams took just 45 minutes to complete Lancashire’s 123-run Championship against Surrey on day four at the Kia Oval – the reigning champions’ first defeat on their home ground in 19 first-class matches.

Williams took 4-13 in just 4.3 overs on the final morning as Surrey were routed out for 84, giving him a total of 4-23, while Bailey finished with 5-48.

The two pacemen took just 9.3 overs to claim Surrey’s last five second-innings wickets to end a run of 18 games at the Oval in which the Division One leaders won 12 and drew the other six.

Bailey, whose 11-over new ball spell of 4-34 on the third night helped reduce Surrey to 57-5 overnight – still 151 runs short of their target of 208, made the initial breakthrough with his second over of the morning, Tom Lawes was caught by 10.

Williams stepped in, bowling Will Jacks for 20 in the next over as the Surrey all-rounder shouldered arms to one jagged back to him from the seam.

Batting against a ball less than 30 overs old and in overcast conditions, with the Oval floodlights on, is not straightforward.

And eventually in the same over Williams grabbed the wicket Lancashire wanted most of all on the last morning as Sam Curran was bowled off stump for 12 by another superb ball angled to him by the New Zealander and then nipping back .

Williams, however, was still not done. In his third over of the day, the 30-year-old – who made 61 in four hours as nightwatchman in Lancashire’s second innings of 293 – took Sean Abbott off wicketkeeper Phil Salt for a duck

Abbott reached an unbeaten 87 in Surrey’s first innings 360, adding a remarkable 130 for the 10th wicket with Dan Worrall, but this time the Australian was third ball and at 75-9, Surrey looked doomed.

Jordan Clark was last out when he skidded Williams over mid-on for four and sparked Lancashire celebrations as they were the only team still unbeaten in Division One.

Surrey captain Rory Burns told BBC Radio London:

“We were obviously very disappointed to lose, to be bowled out for 84 and not chase down 208.

“We would have taken that kind of target last innings, so you have to give Lancashire a lot of credit and hats off to the way they bowled.

“They certainly put the ball in good places regularly and it offers a bit. Playing in flood lights last night and again this morning means the surface has sped up a bit as well.

“The pitch is definitely a bit more in favor of the bowlers in those conditions but with Kookaburra balls you have to make the most of the first 40 overs in an innings because they get a bit softer as they get older.”

Lancashire head coach Glen Chapple:

“To go to the Oval and beat Surrey was a brilliant achievement by all.

“There was a lot of determination in our second innings to get back into the game but the bowling performance on Tuesday night and again this morning was fantastic.

“I don’t think the conditions were that helpful, to be honest – it was a case of bowling really accurately and relentlessly.

“I’m sure Surrey will be a bit surprised but both Tom Bailey and Will Williams have to take a lot of credit for the way they bowled in the second innings. Tom hits the seam with every ball, he’s got height and a good engine as he showed. in the 11-over opening spell last night.”

Report provided by the ECB Reporters’ Network.