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“It feels pretty special. We set out to go back-to-back and the way we have done that is very pleasing. It has been really positive – how we have taken games on and seized the initiative in big moments. We didn’t want to defend it this season, we wanted to attack it”
SURREY CAPTAIN RORY BURNS
SURREY secured backto-back County Championship titles and the 21st in their history despite slipping to defeat at the Ageas Bowl with Hampshire becoming just the second team after Lancashire to beat the champions over the last two seasons.
The visitors’ triumphant moment came on Thursday at 12:24 midway through a Will Jacks over when news filtered through that Essex had been bowled out for under 400 at Wantage Road and could no longer secure the bonus points needed to overtake them.
Jacks pulled out of his run-up and clapped joyfully after the Surrey fans in the ground cheered and saluted the crowd before wilder celebrations followed at lunch. The rest of his teammates remained professional to the task at hand, despite the chants of “Champeones”.
“When I heard those cheers, I didn’t know what to do,” said Jacks. “I looked around at everyone. Foakesy was clapping but everyone was still in the same spot – I didn’t know if we would come together and have a high-five and huddle. I just did a little clap and looked around and got on with it.
“I bowled a pie and the next few overs were terrible. I didn’t know what to do.”
On the field, Surrey were set 185 for victory after they bowled Hampshire out in their second innings for 172 – with Jacks toasting his maiden Surrey five-wicket haul. They lost six wickets before bad light brought day three to a premature end with the freshly crowned champions requiring a tricky 73 on the final day.
It proved too many as Liam Dawson took his season tally to 49 wickets by taking two of the four needed to secure victory, with the match concluded before 11am.
It took five balls for Jordan Clark to advance to Mohammad Abbas and prod to James Vince at first slip. Jamie Overton came out and played a delicious straight drive, holding the pose like a peacock, and then a powerful sweep shot. But an agricultural swing saw him stumped by Ben Brown off Dawson, the start of three wickets to fall in 12 balls to end the year.
Kemar Roach departed second ball when his wild swing flew to first slip, with Abbas finishing the campaign with 53 scalps. Sai Sudharsan, who made 73 in the first innings, batted sensibly until Dan Worrall hacked at one, at which point the Indian took on Dawson but only managed to top edge to Vince running across from the slips to end the contest and the season.
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Sky’s the limit: Surrey captain Rory Burns poses with the trophy after his team secured backto-back titles
PICTURES: Alamy
Hampshire captain James Vince said: “We know how close we are [to winning a title] but also how much those small margins in games impact the overall season when you get to this point and look back.
“We made finals day, lost in the final of the One-Day Cup and finished third in the Championship. It is one of those years where you have been there or thereabouts in all competitions but have nothing to show for it. It is tough to win trophies but we have been consistent across all formats for the last two or three years.”
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