James is confident

8:02am Friday 9th May 2008

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THE last time Essex tasted victory in a one-day match at the Brit Oval, Tony Blair had been Prime Minister for just five weeks.

However, having won their opening two Friends Provident Trophy fixturesagainst Kent and Sussex and sitting top of the South/East Division, spinner James Middlebrook is confident of ending more than a decade of hurt this Sunday.

"Surrey are a good one-day team with a few big hitters so we will have to be on our game," said the 30-year-old.

"We need to keep doing the basics well as we have been so far - batting with purpose, bowling well up front and then the likes of myself and Ryan ten Doeschate carrying it on keeping it tight."

Essex may include Graham Napier if the all-rounder proves his fitness playing for Colchester and East Essex on Saturday and Zimbabwean Grant Flower, but Tim Phillips is definitely out injured.