Adams pleased with progress despite another loss

By sosborn bysimon osborn simon.osborn@essnmedia.co.uk

SURREY cricket manager Chris Adams says there are positives to take from the County Championship defeat against promotion favourites Kent.

The Brown Caps battled hard on the last day to set Rob Key's side a total, but were unable to hold on for the draw as Kent eased home.

And Adams believes the character his side showed on the final morning will stand them in good stead for next season.

He said: "At the end of day three I was wondering what we were going to come back to this morning. I guess most people expected us to get rolled over.

"In terms of the game situation we'll look back and be disappointed that we gave a lead of a hundred back to Kent after scoring over 400. But what we have gained is a great deal of respect for the way we fronted-up today.

"In terms of where we were last night that's as much as you could ask for. We go away from Kent knowing they have a lot more respect for us as a unit for the fight and the character we showed, if not our skill levels with the ball."

Batting first the Brown Caps did well to post a competent score of 423, but at a price as Mark Ramprakash broke a thumb. However, in Kent's reply they were made to pay for dropping Geraint Jones first ball as the England wicket-keeper went on to make a career-best 156 in his side's total of 517.

A batting collapse by Surrey at the start of their second innings saw them 148-5 going into the final day just 54 runs ahead.

A spirited rearguard, led by Stuart Meaker, enabled Surrey to get themselves back into the game, but not enough to prevent their hosts winning to stay top of Division Two.

Adams added that the loss of Ramprakash was yet another example of the mixed fortunes his side is experiencing.

He said: "We've lost Nel, our lead bowler, we've lost Butcher, our captain and a terrific batsman, and we've struggled on without an overseas player of any great note, so I guess having to deal with Mark not being there, potentially for the rest of the season.

"The positive side of that is that we're going to give Arun Harinath an opportunity. He's going to come in and bat at three, which is so exciting.

"We're going to see more of somebody who has having terrific potential."