Surrey vs Warwickshire| Day 2 | Foakes masterclass enables Surrey to post a commendable total

A well-fought century from Ben Foakes allowed Surrey to post a challenging first innings total of 428 in their inaugural match of the ongoing County Championship (division one) against Warwickshire. In reply, Warwickshire are in an undesirable situation, having lost two wickets for just 16 runs at the end of the second day. 

Restarting their first innings from 168 for 3, Surrey suffered a massive blow in the 57th over as Ollie Pope found his timbers flying off a magnificent delivery from Oliver Hannon-Dalby. The 24-yearold went dismissed after scoring 58 runs off 85 balls. After the fall of Pope’s wicket, Ben Foakes and Jamie Smith could add only 25 runs for the fifth wicket before the latter was dismissed for just 10 runs by Danny Briggs, at the team score of 216. Will Jacks couldn’t do much as the 23-year-old could only provide a small contribution of 19 runs in his 39-run stand with Foakes. He became the fourth victim of Hannon-Dalby in his 24th over. 

Following Jacks' dismissal, Foakes and Jordan Clark stitched an extremely crucial partnership of 86 runs for the seventh wicket, ensuring Surrey of a respectable total in their first innings. Before getting caught by Dan Mousley off Robert Yates at the team score of 341, Clark played a magnificent innings of 50 runs with the help of 9 glorious boundaries. 

However, Foakes refused to give up and continued fighting with the support of James Taylor at the other end. Both these batters annoyed the Warwickshire bowlers to great extent by denying any further breakthroughs to them. They formed an unbroken partnership of 78 runs for the ninth wicket, which let Surrey cross the 400-run mark.

The English keeper-batter completed yet another century in his illustrious First-Class career and remained not out on 132 as Surrey declared their first innings on 428. On the other hand, James Taylor, the right-arm seamer, remained unbeaten on 31 with the help of 3 fours and one six. Hannon-Dalby was the most successful bowler from Warwickshire with four wickets for 78, followed by Danny Briggs, who picked three crucial wickets, conceding 84 runs. 

In reply, Warwickshire had a disastrous start to their first innings as Reece Topley disturbed the stumps of Dom Sibley, sending the English opener back to the pavilion for a golden duck in the second over. The attempt of Robert Yates and Will Rhodes to revive their side from the early blow went in vain, with the latter getting caught by Foakes off Kemar Roach in the 10th over. Following Rhodes' wicket, Yates and Danny Briggs safely played the remaining 17 deliveries of the day and assured Warwickshire of no further damage before stumps on day 2. 

Brief scores: Surrey (1st inns)- 428/8 dec, Ben Foakes- 132*, Ryan Patel- 75, Ollie Pope-58, Jordan Clark- 50, Hannon-Dalby- 4/78, Briggs- 3/84

Warwickshire (1st inns)- 16/2, Robert Yates- 10*, Danny Briggs- 0*, Reece Topley- 1/4, Kemar Roach- 1/12 

Warwickshire trail by 412 runs at the end of day-2.