Quality pace bowling from Martin Bicknell and Alex Tudor brought Essex crashing down to earth at Chelmsford as they suffered a 101-run defeat in their 50-over clash with Surrey.

Replying to a total of 253-8 ,they only managed to respond with 152-9 - their hopes of victory swept away in the first ten overs as Bicknell and Tudor each grabbed a couple of wickets with only 22 on the board.

It was a disappointing effort from Essex who had gone into the match with two emphatic victories against Kent in their previous warm-up games.

Surrey's opening bowlers bowled with hostility and accuracy which contrasted sharply with Essex. Very rarely did they afford the batsmen the luxury of playing the ball, while underlining the value of line and length.

Bicknell also possessed the ability to move deliveries away sharply after drawing opponents into the shot - a fact demonstrated perfectly as he found the outside edge and had Aftab Habib snapped up at slip.

Habib was one of three batsmen departing with the scoreboard stuck on 11. John Stephenson went to another slip catch against Tudor and Paul Grayson was trapped lbw by Bicknell.

Jonathan Dakin was bowled offering no shot against Tudor as the collapse continued, and before the 50 was raised, Mark Pettini was caught behind off the lively Phil Samson.

Some semblance of respect was introduced by Darren Robinson and Zoheb Sharif, but just when a substantial recovery was promised Robinson undid all his hard work by losing patience against leg-spinner Ian Salisbury and was easily stumped by Alec Stewart for 36.

Sharif, second top-scorer with 30, soon followed as he was caught behind from Samson.

Only a series of lusty blows from Mark Ilott (23) lifted Essex spirits before they were condemned to an inevitable defeat.

The Essex attack was disappointing - a fact conveyed by the fact they gifted their opponents 19 wides and 6 no-balls.

Joseph Grant in particular struggled to find his rhythm. The West Indian fast-bowler conceded 48 in his six overs - one of these costing 18 - as he was put to the sword by Alistair Brown during a cameo 36.

But it was England batsman Ian Ward who provided the backbone of the Surrey innings -- the left-hander scored 107 from 130 deliveries, including 14 boundaries.

He was eventually bowled by Ilott, who emerged as the county's most economical with 2-28. Surrey: 253-8 (50 overs) Ward 107, Brown 36, Stewart 30, Ilott 2-28, Cowan 2-43, Stephenson 2-49

Essex: 152-9 Robinson 36, Sharif 30, Ilott 23, Tudor 3-30, Bicknell 2-14, Samson 2-37

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Published Wednesday, April 10, 2002