The Second XI Championship match between Surrey and Sussex was drawn as much of day four was called off due to rain in Guildford.
Resuming on 161 for four, the visitors’ fifth wicket partnership of DK Ibrahim (84*) and CJ Tear (22*) added 45 quick-fire runs from six overs in the first hour before declaring on 206 and setting a target of 310 runs from 89 overs for Surrey.
Tommy Ealham backed up his four-wicket haul from the first innings by picking up 2/46 and finishing as Surrey’s standout bowler from this fixture.
A fantastic new ball spell from tall, left-armer Sean Hunt dented Surrey’s response as the seamer removed Ben Geddes (4) and Josh Blake (0) cheaply.
Following a shaky start, Arjun Gill and Stuart van der Merwe offered resistance and anchored the hosts, taking the score to just under 50, before Sussex struck twice at the cusp of lunch.
Ibrahim clean bowled Gill for 15 while AM Foreman got the better of van der Merwe for 26, getting the left-hander caught at slip in classical off-spinner fashion.
Ollie Sykes and Krish Patel resumed Surrey’s innings post the lunch interval, building a partnership of 29 runs, but Hunt returned to find the breakthrough as Sykes holed out a well-directed bouncer for 14.
Patel, who remained unbeaten on 15, was joined by Ealham in the middle. Surrey were 79 for five when bad light interrupted play. It soon started raining at Woodbridge Road and the game that was tightly contested for the first three days ended as a draw.
Scorecard is here.
