SURREY'S captain Rory Hamilton-Brown could not praise his side enough after the Oval outfit's tense 42-run victory over Derbyshire in the LV County Championship last week.

Going into the final day, Derbyshire needed 272 to win with nine wickets remaining.

But with Surrey a bowler short, following the injury to Tim Linley on day two, and Andre Nel fighting a sore hamstring, the visitors had to dig deep.

Their hopes then took another knock when Gareth Batty broke a finger on his left hand attempting to take a catch.

But thanks to Chris Tremlett's 4-94 and Nel's heroic 3-74, the visitors made it two wins in three in the four-day format.

After the match, a delighted Hamilton-Brown said: "I don't think I could be any prouder. We were left with one and a half seamers, one spinner who was injured, but 11 blokes who were desperate to win and who showed a huge amount of heart.

"The game ebbed and flowed all through today. To come out with a win, I thought the rain was going to get us at the end – I would have retired if the rain had done us – but I'm almost lost for words because the effort was more than I have ever experienced.

"Over the last four weeks we've been like that pretty much, to a man, every game. I think it shows how far we've come in a short space of time.

"We've got 11 blokes on the pitch, consistently, who are desperate to win – brave guys who will do everything to make this club successful."

Hamilton-Brown confessed he had been disappointed with the way his side had started the Championship but said he hoped they were now showing their potential in the longer format of the game.

"We've now got two wins in three and we're starting to play good cricket.

"I'm hugely proud and it's a great performance to draw from," he added.