Surrey edge to ECB 50+ crown

Surrey were crowned ECB 50+ County Champions for 2004 after beating Kent in the final by the narrowest of margins, having lost fewer wickets with the scores level.

Batting first, Surrey posted 146 for seven from their 45 overs, with a fine 52 from Evans and 25 from Walton leading the way at Bromley CC.

Kent, having pegged Surrey back with some tight bowling (Dwarka 3-30, Mendham 2-24), could scent victory – and with a fine unbeaten 76 from number three Jobling they looked to have a fighting chance.

But only three supporting batsmen managed to scrape into double figures as 4-24 from Page and 2-23 from Stedman saw Kent wickets fall on a regular basis.

And as Prior was run out for 10 at the death, Kent found themselves left on level pegging on 146 but having lost nine wickets to hand the title to Surrey.

Surrey had reached the final with an 18-run victory over Lancashire at Purley, while Kent saw off Northants by 31 runs at Finedon to progress from the semi-finals.

ECB 50+ County Championship 2004

Final:
Bromley: Surrey 146-7 (C Evans 52), Kent 146-9 (C Jobling 76, C Page 4-24). Surrey won by virtue of having lost fewer wickets

Semi-finals:
Finedon: Kent 202-3 (K Wooding 104), Northants 171-7 (R Swann 45)
Purley: Surrey 191-8 (L Sanderson 43, M Whittle 3-37), Lancashire 173 (G Crossley 76, N Marsh 4-15, Wasim Raja 3-40)

Quarter-finals:
Atherton: Lancashire 228 (G Blackburn 77, G Crossley 43, G Voke 5-50, R Walton 3-17), Wales 205 (N Williams 46, N Lyon 4-20)
Grainville, Jersey: Channel Islands 80 (C Page 4-17), Surrey 82-3 (C Evans 51*)
Old Buckenham: Kent 279-4 (J Howgego 106, C Swadkin 111, I Bix 3-44), Norfolk 205-7 (M Pearse 73)
Kidderminster: Worcestershire 111-8 (S Marriott 3-17), Northants 112-8

The eight quarter-finalists qualified for the knockout stage from the regional group stage of the competition