The second round of county championship matches of the 2026 season got underway this morning. At The Oval Surrey, great left arm spinner Tony Lock’s first county, are in action against Leicestershire, the other county for which he played. This post looks at developments in that game so far.
THE PRELIMINARIES
Leicestershire had Josh Hull playing after he had missed the first match of the season. Other noteworthy names in their XI included New Zealand left arm spinner Ajaz Patel and England spin bowling all rounder Rehan Ahmed. Leicestershire have not of late often been good enough to be in division one – the last time this equivalent match took place was way back in 2015. For Surrey Jordan Clark was back in the side after missing the season opener due to illness. Leicestershire won the toss, and in spite of the presence of Ajaz Patel and Rehan Ahmed, they chose to bowl first.
THE PLAY SO FAR
When both Surrey openers were back in the hutch by the end of the 15th over, with only 42 runs on the board, Leicestershire would have been feeling happy with themselves. By lunch, with the score reading 110-2, and both Jamie Smith (coming off a second innings ton against Warwickshire) and Ollie Pope looking fluent it had quite clearly been Surrey’s morning – if you put the opposition in three wickets by lunch is break even point, with four+ needed to put you ahead on the session.
After the interval Smith and Pope continued to play impressively, extending their partnership to exactly 200, with both completing centuries. This was especially important for Pope, in need of some big scores after a horror show Ashes series during which he got dropped from the side, and saw his replacement Jacob Bethell bat superbly. Smith also struggled in that series, but he at least has a test average the right side of 40, something to which Pope as yet has never been able to point.
The partnership ended when Pope edged Patel through to Cox to go for 103 and make it 242-3. Jamie Smith and Dan Lawrence then shared a rapid 50 stand, which has just been ended with Lawrence being bowled by Rehan Ahmed for 31. Smith is on 122 not out. Ajaz Patel and Rehan Ahmed having a wicket a piece on day one is good for Leicestershire in one way, but it does not strengthen their case for bowling first.
Surrey have cruised past 300 while I have been preparing this post for publication – the score currently stands at 314-4 with Smith on to 137 not out and Foakes having just hit his most convincing shot so far to move for 2* to 6*.
PHOTOGRAPHS
Today’s photos come in two parts. I start with a special feature – four pics of a ‘Holly Blue’ butterfly (they seem to be doing well this year) from yesterday…
Now for the full gallery…
aspiblog 