PEMBERTON GREENISH ACADEMYThe Pemberton Greenish Surrey Academy got their season off the best possible start as young opener Dominic Sibley inspired a dominant 107 run victory over Guildford CC yesterday.

Batting first at Woodbridge Road the PG Academy scored heavily, led by Sibley who carried his bat for a superb 132*.

After impressing on the England U19 tour of South Africa this winter, Sibley is combining studying for his A-Levels at Whitgift School with a summer contract on the Surrey CCC professional squad. Further to this, he is continuing to attend sessions with the PG Academy and will also represent them this summer.

At Woodbridge Road, Sibley was helped by Jack Scriven (70) and Harry Allen (47*) as Surrey compiled an imposing 275/2 from their forty overs.

In response, Guildford – fielding a strong side in their first match before the Ryman Surrey Championship Premier Division starts next weekend – were able to muster just 168 all out.

Pick of the bowlers for Surrey was young seamer Will Rollings, with 5/38 and there were also wickets for Allen (2/34), Will Pereira (1/45), Chris

Jones (1/34) and Akhil Patel (1/7).

Surrey Members can now benefit from a 10% discount on their fish ‘n’ chips – when eating at any of the Deep Blue shops around the country.

Following a recent deal done by the Club for Deep Blue to supply the Kia Oval, the company will generously give all Surrey Members a 10% discount on production of their Membership cards at any of their branches.

Deep Blue restaurants are in: Bedhampton; Bury St. Edmunds; Crawley; Godalming; Horsham; Maidstone; Oxted; Purbrook; Reading; Redhill; Southsea; St. Leonards-on-Sea; Woburn Sands and Yateley. For more information, please visit deepbluerestaurants.com.

FISH ‘N’ CHIPS DISCOUNT

On 30 May, the Kia Oval is hosting a Wisden 150 lunch, themed The IPL and the World Game. Starting at midday, the three-course lunch will feature a panel discussion and Q&A session in a room overlooking the pitch.

The panel, chaired by Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack editor Lawrence Booth, comprises one-time Surrey player and Twenty20 star Dirk Nannes, Surrey chief executive Richard Gould, IPL presenter and England bowler Isa Guha, and former Rajasthan Royals chief executive Sean Morris.

The Wisden 150 Club (www.wisden150club.com) was established to celebrate the 150th edition of the Almanack and is a focal point to consider and debate cricket’s rich history, as well as current events affecting the game as it is played today.

The Wisden 150 Club is offering Surrey CCC Members a fantastic two-for-one offer (£150 for two tickets) for this event if you book before Monday 20 May. For details, call 020 3176 5258 or email wisden150@trinorth.co.uk

SPECIAL OFFER FOR SURREY CCC MEMBERS AT KIA OVAL WISDEN LUNCH

CLUB

SURREY CCCNEWSLETTER

We are now a month into the season and have had a very positive first few games of the campaign. Certainly, to be unbeaten at this stage is a strong foundation for the season. Against Somerset and Middlesex we bowled well enough to give ourselves opportunities to get into good positions. Sadly, we were unable to secure the wins but it was very satisfying to see ourselves go toe to toe with two of the stronger sides in the division and not take a step back. Another aspect of the start of our season that has really pleased me has been the form of our young batsmen. As you will all know from having watched him last season, Rory Burns is a player of immense talent and application. For him to already have two first-class centuries under his belt this year is a massive achievement and one I hope he will use to move forward confidently and continue what we hope will be a big year for him. It was also fantastic to see Gary Wilson take his opportunity with such characteristic application against Sussex. Although the opportunity was only created out of the misfortune of a team mate, Gary was given the chance to bat at number three and did superbly. He has made huge strides with his game over the last eighteen months and I genuinely think he can make a big difference for the Club in all formats for many years to come. The final member of our century making wicket keeping trio is Steven Davies, who has matched Burnsy by going to three figures twice. I am not breaking any confidences when I say that Steven had a very difficult time in the latter half of last summer. We realised this and were able to work with him over the winter, ensuring he was able to enjoy a full break from cricket and come back to the game renewed this year. To watch him bat like he has this year, particularly against Somerset and then Hampshire in our first One Day game of the season, has been very powerful for the squad. He has shown that he is back to his very best and I strongly believe that are few better batsmen in the county game today. There have certainly been very few One Day innings played in this country recently that are the equal to his performance last Monday. Our skipper, Graeme Smith, has also been excellent and his presence has been felt throughout the Club. It is tremendously disappointing for him to have to return to South Africa for surgery on his ankle but I wish him a speedy recovery.

I have focused largely on the batsmen so far, but our bowlers also deserve a great deal of praise. None of the three wickets they have been presented with have done them any natural favours but they have persevered and got their rewards. Jade Dernbach was as good as I’ve ever seen him on the first day of the season against Somerset and has been excellent ever since. The work and thought that has gone into his bowling in the last few months is clear for all to see and has is now really beginning to pay off. Our other seam bowlers have all enjoyed early success as well. Stuart Meaker was excellent in the second innings against Somerset and has been unlucky to miss out subsequently with a small injury to his thigh. Chris Tremlett is coming back from a long period away from the game and is in the process of finding his form and rhythm – nobody doubts what he is capable of and we hope it will not be long before he registers a big wicket haul. There have also been excellent shows from Tim Linley, Zander de Bruyn and Gareth Batty. With Jon Lewis, Gary Keedy, Matthew Dunn, George Edwards, Tom Jewell, Freddie van den Bergh, Zafar Ansari and Tom Curran still in reserve, there are a lot of wickets still to be taken this season! Gareth Batty will be taking up the captaincy reigns in Graeme Smith’s absence. We are very fortunate to be able to call on him once again. I must also congratulate Rory Burns and Arun Harinath on their debut first-class wickets at Lord’s, always a fine achievement in a batsman’s career. I still have warm memories of having Trevor Franklin caught and bowled at Derby in 1990! Sadly, this is our last match at the Kia Oval until July. We play at Guildford early in June but otherwise will be on the road for a long haul. We have hugely appreciated the large and supportive crowds we have seen so far this year and would be delighted to receive your support as we travel around the country! Otherwise, I hope to catch up with many of you when we pitch up at Woodbridge Road next month. Best,

Chris AdamsTeam Director

ICC CHAMPIONS TROPHY

Members attending the forthcoming ICC Champions Trophy have until this Monday, 13th May, to take advantage of a special ‘Friends and Family’ offer in the Members’ Pavilion.

Many of the games due to be hosted at the ground are close to capacity in public seating areas, whereas we still have some space left in the Pavilion. To date, Members have had exclusive access to the Pavilion but with spare capacity still remaining - which must be used - we are now offering tickets in the Pavilion to the friends and family of Members for all ICC Champions Trophy games.

Until Monday 13th May, your friends and family will be able to purchase tickets in the Pavilion by calling the Ticket Office on 0844 375 1845 between

9am and 5pm Monday to Friday, or by visiting the Ticket Office at the Kia Oval. Please note that as Pavilion tickets for the ICC Champions Trophy are available exclusively to Members and their guests, they are not available to purchase online.

Thereafter, if capacity still remains, we will offer tickets in the Pavilion to a wider network of loyal Club supporters to ensure the facility is not empty whilst the rest of the ground is sold out.

Please also be aware that, due to tournament regulations, Members’ will not be permitted to come and watch on practice days for the duration of the ICC Champions Trophy

NEW PAVILION

As Members who attended the Yorkshire Bank 40 match against Hampshire on Bank Holiday Monday will know, the new extension to the Kia Oval Pavilion is officially open.

The £2m project includes a new frontage for the building, a brand new reception area, two south facing terraces – one on the first floor and one on the third floor – two new staircases, the Presidents’ Tea Room and a new look to the Ali Brown 268 Bar. As well as this, the iconic Hobbs Gates have been relocated to a new, more central, location and a new forecourt created in front of the building.

As well as this, a number of improvements have been made to the feel of the original building with a new portrait of Adam Hollioake hanging in the Long Room and a more prominent role given to the Club’s amazing history, with old team photos lining the walls of the staircases and the Galadari Museum and Library, curated by Surrey legend Bill Gordon, open for viewing and readers in the Sandham Room next to the Long Room.

We hope all Members will enjoy the improvements to the building over the course of the season. Please feel free to pass on any comments and questions you have to Club staff you encounter.

The five days of competition between Surrey and Durham will play host to the annual Surrey CCC Beer Festival in the Pavilion Forecourt.

This year the Club has recruited breweries locally, with a number of the finest independent London brewers all showcasing their wares. As well as this, there will be an exclusive Marston’s creation – the Surrey Stumper – available throughout both matches.

Beers from Beavertown Brewery in de Beauvoir, Hackney; Tap East in Stratford; the Hackney Brewery in Hackney; London Fields Brewery in London Fields; Crate Brewery in Hackney Wick; Redemption in Tottenham and By the Horns Brewery in Wandsworth.

As well as this, we have reached a little further afield to bring in Dark Star from Brighton; Ascot Ales and Hogs Back from Tongham. For those who prefer apples to beer, there is also cider from Westons in Herefordshire.

On top of all of these are wide selection of ales from traditional cricketing partner Marston’s, who have provided a wide selection of their finest tipples as well as the fantastic Surrey Stumper.

All of these fantastic beers and ciders will be available throughout both matches from the Beer Festival tent in the Pavilion Forecourt. To give you extra opportunity to sample the produce, the festival will stay open until 9pm every night.

Also, if you have friends that fancy nipping down for some beer and cricket, remember to tell them that doors are thrown open for free after 4pm every day!

SURREY WOMEN

The Surrey Women got their LV= County Championship season off to a disappointing start after slipping to a pair of defeats at home to Yorkshire and then away to Sussex.

The double header kicked off at the Kia Oval on Sunday May 5th, when Yorkshire were the visitors for a fifty over game, the standard format in the Women’s County Championship.

Batting first, the visitors struggled against some accurate Surrey bowling, bringing up just 169 all out from their fifty overs. They were almost totally reliant on opener Loz Winfield, who hit 102 from 130 balls before being dismissed by Cecily Scutt.

Surrey shared the wickets around with Jess Jackson (3/28), Natalie Sciver (2/22), Scutt (2/29) and Katherine Robson (1/35) all taking scalps.

Surrey faced similar struggles in their reply. Despite 68 from Sciver and 22 from Sarah Clarke, Surrey ended a tantalising 12 runs short when they were dismissed for 157, losing their last three wickets for just three runs.

Monday’s game – at a sun kissed BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground in Hove on Bank Holiday Monday, May 6th – was a more one sided affair.

Surrey batted first and posted a competitive 181/6 from their fifty overs with Sciver once again in top form, hitting 96 from 123 balls. She was supported by opener Hannah Jones (25), Scutt (17) and Clarke (17).

However, Surrey found their effort comprehensively overhauled by their hosts. England star Georgia Elwis was the mainstay of the Sussex reply as she serenely reached 105* from 122 balls, with Sussex overhauling Surrey’s total for the loss of just one wicket.

Elwis’ opening partner, Georgia Adams – the daughter of Surrey Team Director Chris – scored 26 before Hannah Phelps partnered Elwis to the end and a nine wicket victory with fourteen overs remaining.

Surrey Women play their next game, against Nottinghamshire at Welbeck CC, on Sunday May 19th.

Although the 2013 season is just under a month old, it has already been a very busy time at the Kia Oval – on and off the field.

As well as three games in the LV= County Championship and the start of the Yorkshire Bank 40 competition, the Kia Oval has already staged a successful Schools’ Day and a sunshine blessed Family Day.

For Schools’ Day, which took place on the second day of Surrey’s four day match against Sussex (Thursday April 25th), around 5,000 children from schools all over Surrey and south London came down to enjoy a day of glorious sunshine but attritional cricket!

It didn’t seem they minded too much though, with Kevin Pietersen and England Women star Beth Morgan signing autographs, Vauxhall City Farm providing a petting zoo and Surrey coaches running coaching sessions throughout the day!

Family Day, another occasion blessed by glorious weather, saw yet more children pour into the ground. Accompanied by parents rather than teachers, they too had the chance to get autographs – from London 2012 Gold Medallist and Right to Play ambassador Sophie Hosking – as well as playing on a surf simulator and a bouncy castle.

Most importantly, on both occasions, the kids had the chance to meet the ever popular Surrey mascot – Caesar the Lion!

YEAR RECAP