Jamie Smith produced the perfect dress rehearsal for his England debut on day one of their top-of-the-table clash with Essex at The Kia Oval, in front of over 6300 spectators, which is a record County Championship attendance for a Surrey home fixture in the 21st century.
Named this morning as the only wicketkeeper in England’s 14 for the first Test against the West Indies a week on Wednesday, Smith struck his second century of the season, making exactly 100 with two sixes and 14 fours, as the hosts reached 248-8 on a rain-shortened day in south London.
Smith’s heroics apart, Surrey’s batters were up against some probing bowling from Essex, South African quick Eathan Bosch returning 3-52 in only his second appearance for the county.
Play began on time after morning drizzle but only two overs were possible before the rain returned, forcing the players from the field until after an early lunch.
Dominic Sibley produced some crisp drives off his pads but was given a life on 10 when Jamie Porter shelled a catch at backward point, Shane Snater the unlucky bowler. The spill wasn’t overly expensive as Sibley reached only 24 before swishing one from Bosch to Dean Elgar at first slip.
Dan Lawrence, also named in the England squad, fluffed his lines, producing one glorious cover drive before fencing at one from Bosch, which bounced a bit off a length, taking the edge and flying to Simon Harmer at second slip.
Harmer would spill a chance to reprieve Rory Burns on 25, Snater again the luckless bowler, but like Sibley before him, the Surrey skipper couldn’t cash in, nicking one from Paul Walter in the next over to Michael Pepper behind the stumps. Ben Foakes was the next fall, edging through to Pepper to give Bosch a third wicket.
Smith though stood firm, demonstrating his ability to be a 360-player, punching and caressing fours through cover and punishing anything on his legs both backward and forward of square.
A ninth four crunched square took him to 50 in 70 balls as he and Sai Sudharsan shared a stand of 70. Walter, completing Porter’s over who was receiving treatment for an injury, found the edge of Sudharsan’s bat for 14, Harmer providing safe hands at slip.
Smith, however, carried on, twice clearing the ropes on the way to a century sealed by a quickly run single. The very next ball, his fine innings came to an end in Matt Critchley’s first over.
Jordan Clark didn’t stay in the middle for long and Ryan Patel’s burgeoning innings was cut short by the first ball of a new spell from Snater which pierced his defence.
Tom Lawes and James Taylor dropped the anchor after the eighth wicket fell and added 24 valuable runs before the close.
Jamie Smith reflects on an incredible 24 hours for him!
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) June 30, 2024
Smith was called up to the England Test team this morning, then went on to score a stunning century this afternoon.
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