Surrey’s Tom Lawes starred with both bat and ball as Surrey won a rain affected Royal London Cup group match by 43 runs on the Duckworth Lewis method.

Lawes hit 60 from 49 balls as Surrey posted 302 for 9 in their 50 overs, before taking 2 for 20 in five overs as the visitors struggled to 68 for 3 in reply before heavy rain ensured there would be now more play just before 4 pm.

The visitors won the toss and elected to put Surrey in to bat. It looked a good toss to win with Kasey Aldridge picking up both openers inside to overs.

The young 21- year-old had Ben Geddes(6) caught behind before a moment of brilliance from Somerset skipper Matt Renshaw at slip made sure the Bristol born seamer had his second of the morning. Patel(13) looked shell shocked when somehow Renshaw threw himself to his left and in mid air clung on to the ball to leave Surrey 27-2 in the 6^th over.

Josh Blake and Nico Reifer dug Surrey out of a hole with a half century partnership before Blake(36) was bowled by Jack Harding.

The impressive Reifer received some very useful support from 18-year-old Sheridon Gumbs. The youngsters added two shy of a hundred for the fourth wicket before Reifer(70) perished in the deep after holing out to deep square leg with his highest List A score.

Gumbs was another Surrey youngster who impressed, also registering his highest List A score with a superb 66 before falling with two overs of the innings remaining after being caught at deep midwicket.

The experienced Tom Lawes played his part by making 60 before becoming another victim to the persevering Kasey Aldridge, who  picked up two wickets in successive balls in his final over to finish with 5 for 49, with Surrey completing their 50 overs on 302 for 9.

In conditions that wasn’t easy to bat in with rain and thunder due Somerset struggled against some excellent new ball bowling from Lawes and Matt Dunn. With the floodlights on the visitors were soon in trouble when James Rew(3) edged behind. Fellow opener Andy Umeed(12) was comprehensively bowled by Dunn before Lawes bagged his second in his opening spell by removing Renshaw for 3 to leave Somerset 53 for 3.

The visitors 15 more runs before the expected heavy rain materialised to end the contest with Surrey picking up their second win in Group A and condemned Somerset to their sixth straight defeat from six group games.

Surrey       vs   Somerset

                          Royal London Cup  Wednesday 17^th August 2022

                                   Surrey  302-9 (50)      Somerset   68-3 (12)

                                          Surrey won by 43 runs on the D/L method

                                      Peter Moore at the Kia Oval

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