Few days after World Test Championship (WTC) final where India could not chase down 444 against Australia, approximately 110 kms away from London in Canterbury, Surrey batters created history in County Cricket. India’s young left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh ended up on the wrong side of history on his County debut, as Sussex chased down a massive target of 501 against Kent.
500-plus run chase in England
The last time a 500-plus target was chased down on England soil was in 1925. Middlesex chased down 502 against Nottinghamshire. In total there have been three 500-plus targets that have been chased down on England soil. The first instance was in June 1896. Cambridge University chased down 507 at Lord's against Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). The other instance is of July 1900 when Players chased down 500 against Players at the Lord's.
The traditional approach
The batting lineup that chased down the mammoth target against Kent included two discarded players from England side. Opener Dominic Sibley took the traditional approach after Rory Burns lost his wicket. Sibley saw the run chase through as he remained unbeaten for 140 from 415 deliveries including 17 fours. He had a strike rate of 33.73 in the massive run chase which may be frowned upon by many in modern day cricket.
The Bazball approach
While New Zealand captain Tom Latham contributed with a 58-run knock, Jamie Smith approached the run chase in a ‘Bazball’ manner. He smashed 114 runs from 77 balls including 18 fours and four sixes. It took a brilliant delivery from Arshdeep to flatten his off stump. 22-year-old Smith’s knock tilted the game in Surrey’s favour. He even smashed Arshdeep for 20 runs in an over.
Finishing it off
On Day 4, Ben Foakes who was recently dropped from the Ashes squad with the return of Jonny Bairstow, scored 124 runs from 211 balls including 15 fours and two sixes. Foakes shared a 237-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Later Arshdeep got a consolation wicket of Will Jacks but it was too late. Jordan Clark scored runs quickly with ample time left in the day's play as Surrey chased down 501 from 146.1 overs with five wickets in hand.
Collapse in first innings
Interestingly, Surrey's batting looked hapless in the first innings. Six of the top seven batters registered single-digit scores. Contributions from the lower order helped them post 145. Kent scored 301 in the first innings with the help of Jordan Cox's 133 and half-centuries from Joey Evison, Wes Agar. In the second innings, Kent posted 344 with the help of three half-centuries and contributions from low order to set a target of 501.
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