Report: Warwickshire v Surrey, One Day Cup

Chris Benjamin and Michael Burgess blasted a 127-run partnership as Warwickshire retained their 100 per cent record in the Metro Bank One Day Cup against Surrey by three runs in a thriller at Rugby School.

Benjamin’s cleanly-hit 75 (51 balls) and Michael Burgess’ classy 60 (58) offered high entertainment to a 2,500 crowd in the delightful, sylvan setting as they lifted the home side to 311 for nine. James Taylor (three for 43) and Cameron Steel (three for 58) led the bowling for Surrey.

Surrey’s reply fell just short at 308 for nine despite a brilliant List A-best 149 (142) by Dom Sibley against his former team-mates. Sibley struck 12 fours and four sixes but only Ben Geddes (62 from 70) offered significant support as Surrey sustained a fourth successive defeat and Warwickshire harvested a fourth successive victory.

After choosing to bowl, Surrey enjoyed early success when Ed Barnard edged Taylor to slip in the fourth over. Rob Yates (a run-a-ball 40) and Will Rhodes (44, 68) then added 58 in 11 overs but perished before turning their innings into match-shaping ones. 

Yates’ fluent knock ended when he pulled a Geddes long hop to deep square leg. Rhodes was bowled off-stump by Cameron Steel. Hamza Shaikh (39 from 47) belted a Steel full toss into the trees over mid-wicket but then sought a straighter six off the spinner and found only Conor McKerr at long-on. 

Benjamin and Burgess supplied impetus with a stand of 117 in 14 overs. Benjamin has endured a difficult season but struck the ball with a sweetness and power which evoked memories of his burst into prominence in 2021. He raced to 50 in 38 balls and Burgess followed to his eighth List A half-century (51 balls) before top-edging a sweep at Steel.

Benjamin, having struck six fours and four sixes, hoisted McKerr to mid off but a violent cameo from Kai Smith (26 from 13) lifted the total over the 300 mark.

Surrey’s reply was given a perky launch by openers Sibley and Ryan Patel before the latter drove Barnard straight to extra cover.

While Sibley and Geddes were together, adding 124 in 24 overs, Surrey were ascendant but the fall of Geddes, who edged Michael Booth to wicketkeeper Burgess, triggered the loss of four wickets in eight overs. Rory Burns was bowled behind his legs, sweeping at Yates, Ben Foakes lifted Barnard to mid off and Steel fell lbw, reverse sweeping Jake Lintott. 

Sibley reached his fourth List A century, his first for Surrey, the previous three having come for Warwickshire (from 116 balls) but Josh Blake’s lively 26 (20) ended when he scooped Olly Hannon-Dalby to deep mid-wicket.

With 39 needed from three overs, Sibley lifted Hannon-Dalby for successive sixes but edged the next ball to Burgess. Last pair Nathan Barnwell and Taylor had a real go at collecting the required 20 from the last over, failing only narrowly at the end of a fine game of cricket.

Benjamin said: “It was great to get a win and make it four in a row, the boys are really chuffed.

“It was an epic day at such a lovely venue. To have 3,000 people and a great vibe, it was awesome to bat out there and it was a great game in a beautiful setting, I think everyone loved it. The wicket played well. The field was good. It was just a great day out.

“I am chuffed to have got some runs. It has been a bit of a long time coming over the last month. I have been striking it beautifully in the nets but in the Blast kept managing to find a fielder so it was quite nice to get in and get a score.

“As a cricketer you are always wanting to do well but I haven’t been worrying, I just focused on my process and just trusted the process and tried to not put myself under too much pressure and stay patient and keep playing the same way and trust that it will come good. I know I have got in the locker so it was nice to show it off today.”