Surrey CCC’s Mark Stoneman: We have been frustrating in Vitality Blast

BY MARCUS HOOK

Surrey completed their first double of the season last weekend, registering an away win over Glamorgan in the Vitality Blast to add to the one they scored at the Oval a fortnight earlier.

The architect was former England batsman Mark Stoneman, who brushed off the early departure of Aaron Finch – caught behind for zero – to lay the foundations for a successful chase by hitting 53 in Surrey’s 155-3.

Ollie Pope (28 not out) and Ben Foakes (29 not out) guided the visitors home with an over to spare.
Nevertheless, the Oval outfit remain eighth in the table with five more South Group matches to come.

They were due to host Sussex Sharks last night before heading to Southampton to face Hampshire today.

“It’s a case of winning every game and seeing how it ends up,” said Stoneman, pictured left.

“Obviously, it’s very disappointing to find ourselves in this position. To a man, we are a lot better than how we have performed, which is frustrating because the work’s been put in.

“It’s been a tough campaign so far. We’ve been way short of the standards we expect of ourselves and what’s deserving of Surrey really. So, it was nice to get a win on the board and, hopefully, that builds a bit of momentum now.

“We haven’t all clicked together at the right time, but hopefully this can be the start of something.”

Stoneman hit six fours as he faced 53 balls at Sophia Gardens Cardiff.

He said: “The pitch had been covered for a while and there was a fair amount of grass on it, so it was an interesting surface.

“It was nice to restrict Glamorgan to 152 and, then, the way we went about chasing it down – it was measured. That’s what was needed. We didn’t go too hard at it up front, just stayed in touch with the rate all the way and Popey and Foakesy finished it off lovely at the end.”

Stoneman’s 53 was his highest score in Twenty20 cricket in three years.

“I felt pretty good,” said the 32-year-old left-hander. “I just tried to stay in control of things, establish some good partnerships and set a nice base for the chase.

“I have been hitting the ball well, but just haven’t scored when I have played. Today was an opportunity, chasing not a massive total, which gave myself a chance to lay a platform for the team.

“Glamorgan bowled really well, nice and straight with changes of pace. Obviously, Foakesy is a high-class player, so it was a nice confidence booster for him to come in and play the way he did and finish it off for the lads.”