Surrey sealed a primary County Championship identify for 16 years with a aggravating three- wicket win over Worcestershire at Blackfinch New Highway.

Openers Rory Burns and Mark Stoneman laid the rules with a century stand however the backside county made the guests combat all of the manner ahead of victory used to be clinched 20 mins ahead of tea.

Seven home-grown merchandise have been a part of the aspect which clinched a 9th successive Championship victory for the guests, whilst any other – Sam Curran – used to be voted England’s guy of the sequence within the Check conquer India.

The ultimate time Surrey put in combination the sort of series of victories in top quality cricket used to be in 1999, when on the best way to the primary of 3 titles in 4 years beneath Adam Hollioake.

The Championship pennant has eluded Surrey since 2002 when probably the most present aspect – Rikki Clarke – used to be a part of the squad.

However the intensity of in the community produced ability – plus key in a foreign country signings like Morne Morkel – counsel they might now cross on and revel in a identical run of good fortune as completed beneath Hollioake.

Worcestershire, who themselves fielded 9 domestic grown gamers, have been the ultimate aspect to disclaim Surrey victory in south London in early Might they usually once more fought onerous within the go back come upon.

However Morkel’s devastating five-wicket burst on Wednesday night proved a very powerful in making sure Surrey needed to take on a much less not easy goal than had seemed most likely for lots of the 3rd day.

It approach they now face an uphill process to steer clear of an speedy go back to Department Two and must beat Essex at Chelmsford and visiting Yorkshire to have any hopes of survival.

Surrey resumed on 70 with out loss and Stoneman and Burns seemed reasonably untroubled and a again foot quilt force for his 10th 4 by way of the previous at Wayne Parnell’s expense took him to a 69-ball half-century – and likewise raised the century stand.

Pope and Ben Foakes, ready to bat in his accustomed place after sickness intended he dropped down the order within the first innings, noticed Surrey to lunch without a additional alarms.

Simplest 62 have been wanted when Foakes (22) went for a top-edged pull towards Parnell and fell to a nice catch by way of Ross Whiteley, working again from sq. leg.

Worcestershire endured to plug away and Will Jacks (12) holed out to additional quilt off Ed Barnard.

Pope (49) used to be comprehensively bowled by way of Pennington and the similar bowler disregarded Tom Curran (seven) as he gloved to Whiteley, working again from slip.

However the 36-year-old Clarke saved his nerve to look Surrey over the completing line and there have been wild scenes of birthday celebration when Morkel became Pennington for the successful boundary.