Notts batsmen Taylor and Libby hold up Surrey's push

Brendan Taylor and Jake Libby held up Surrey's push for a first win of the Specsavers County Championships season, by adding an unbroken 73 in 20 overs for Notts' third wicket at the Kia Oval.
Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club.Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club.
Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club.

At lunch, set 386 to win in 96 overs by Surrey’s overnight declaration at 244 for 5, Nottinghamshire were 102 for 2 with Taylor unbeaten on 54 from 53 balls and Libby on 29 not out.

Gareth Batty had earlier removed Michael Lumb for 11 with his fourth ball, caught at slip from one that turned away from the left-hander, following Ravi Rampaul’s third over strike when he produced a perfect leg-cutter to bowl Steven Mullaney for 5.

That left Notts distinctly wobbly at 29 for 2 but Taylor, joining opener Libby, counter-attacked with controlled aggression in an impressive effort. The Zimbabwean reached his fifty in the last over of the morning session, slashing a short ball from Rampaul away to third man for his eighth four.

There was also a six for Taylor, lofted with sweet timing to long on off Batty, as he dominated his partnership with Libby, who at lunch had faced 103 balls.

Off spinner Batty, who took 4 for 23 in Notts’ first innings capitulation to 182 all out, probed away skilfully in a spell of 7-3-23-1, while seamers Rampaul, Tom Curran and Stuart Meaker all got the ball past the bat on occasions without any further success.

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