Surrey seal promotion

Chris Schofield © Getty Images

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A spell of 3-2 in 11 balls from Chris Schofield helped Surrey to a 218-run win against Glamorgan at the Brit Oval and guaranteed their promotion from Division Two of the Liverpool Victoria County Championship at the first time of asking.

Set 474 to win, the visitors were bowled out for 255 with Ian Salisbury taking the last two wickets in virtual darkness in the 11th over of the extra half-hour.

David Hemp batted heroically, making 155 from 177 balls with 22 fours and four sixes, but when he was ninth man out the game was up for Glamorgan.

Surrey cricket manager Alan Butcher said: "This is obviously a great result for us as this was our main aim at the start of the season.

"But we still have one more job to do and that is to make sure we finish on top of the table.

"It's been a fantastic all-round effort by the squad and to win the division two competition would be the icing on the cake."

Schofield, who played two Tests for England in 2000 but was released by Lancashire in 2004, has been playing minor counties cricket for Suffolk.

He was taken on by Surrey on a short-term contract when Anil Kumble returned to India last month.

He finished the day with figures of 3-82 and with his prospects of resurrecting his first-class career considerably enhanced.

Hemp was a lone source of resistance for Glamorgan, making light of the situation and the gloomy conditions, but Schofield did the damage when he ripped through the Glamorgan middle order to set up Surrey’s winning chance.

Richard Grant was caught at cover for three before Schofield struck twice in two balls having James Franklin smartly taken by Mark Butcher at silly point and Mark Wallace caught by wicket-keeper Jon Batty when he top-edged a sweep.

Nayan Doshi nipped in with the wickets of Robert Croft and David Harrison and Surrey claimed the extra half hour with Glamorgan eight wickets down. Hemp and Dean Cosker clung on doggedly until Salisbury applied the finishing touches.

Earlier Butcher’s second century of the match and a swashbuckling 107 not out from Ali Brown, made from 88 balls with seven fours and six sixes, set up Surrey’s mid-afternoon declaration.

Neil Saker, the not out nightwatchman, clogged up the first session making 13 from 62 balls but once he was run out by a direct hit by Hemp at midwicket the floodgates opened.

Butcher made 108 from 139 balls with 14 fours and two sixes and did not make a mistake until he was caught behind by Wallace off David Harrison.

Brown continued flaying the bowling in partnership with Azhar Mahmood (32 not out) until Butcher called a halt to the slaughter.