Date-stamped : 27 Apr97 - 06:17 Subdued Surrey fail to sparkle By D J Rutnagur at the Oval First day of four: Somerset (311-5) v Surrey THE Oval season opened on a note of mourning. The Union flag was at half mast, Surrey took the field wearing armbands and the teams lined up for a minute`s silence as a mark of respect to Denis Compton and Graham Kersey, the Surrey wicketkeeper who died after a car crash in Brisbane on New Year`s Eve. The sad mood was also depicted by the cricket. Surrey`s bowling varied in quality and the most productive of Somerset`s partnerships, 110 for the third wicket between Peter Bowler, who made 63 in four hours, off 169 balls, and Richard Harden, unbeaten with a doleful 81 off 226 balls, occupied 40 overs. In retrospect, their workmanlike approach and hard graft proved valuable for two wickets were seized by Adam Hollioake in the last ten overs of a long day which, at the end, seemed to have been of equal profit to both sides. Earlier, Surrey were so frustrated that Hollioake used eight bowlers, of whom Joey Benjamin was incapacitated with a calf injury halfway through the afternoon. Somerset were slow in getting their runs and their score was inflated by 69 extras, including 48 runs` worth of no balls - Chris Lewis was the most culpable bowler - and six wides. Bowler has made five centuries against Surrey in the past, including a couple in the last two seasons. He looked certain to notch up another when he played across the line at Alex Tudor, who bowled a splendid spell just before the tea interval. Bowler had come in when Marcus Trescothick cut uppishly at Martin Bicknell. Mark Lathwell, more circumspect than is his wont, helped Bowler put the innings on a sound footing before Ian Salisbury claimed him for his first victim in Surrey`s colours. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) ==============================>Day 2 Harden opens the way for Herzberg By D J Rutnagur at the Oval Second day of four: Surrey (172-7) trail Somerset (463) by 291 runs RICHARD Harden`s unbeaten 136, spanning 468 minutes and made off 344 balls, may not win many points for artistic merit. However, it was the basis of the strong position Somerset acquired, thanks to their late signing, Steve Herzberg, who played outstanding supporting roles as both batsman and bowler, and Graham Rose, who took three wickets in nine balls during a splendid post-tea spell. Surrey`s bowlers paid for their lack of discipline and the virtue of a good line was emphasised as Rose toppled Alec Stewart, Graham Thorpe and Adam Hollioake in rapid succession to reduce Surrey to 121 for five. Thanks to the profligacy of Kevin Shine, Darren Bicknell and Mark Butcher had given Surrey a brisk start of 94. Their caper was ended by Herzberg who, earlier, had partnered Harden in a ninth-wicket partnership of 109, to which he contributed 56. Herzberg, Carshalton-born, made one Sunday appearance for Worcestershire in 1991 and played five first-class games in 1995 for Kent. Raised in Australia from the age of nine, he played twice for Western Australia and seven times for Tasmania in the Sheffield Shield. Coming on to bowl his off-spinners in the 21st over, his first ball, was a full toss which Darren Bicknell patted back for a simple catch. The ball with which he claimed Mark Butcher in his fifth over was more worthy. Tossed up, it beat him in the air and, pitching in the rough, turned to have him stumped. Chris Lewis top-edged a pull off Andrew Caddick and Shine ended Nadeem Shahid`s two-hour innings with the last ball of the day. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) ===============================>Day 3 Surrey relieved of extra burden By D J Rutnagur at the Oval Third day of four: Surrey (209-8) trail Somerset (463) by 254 runs The turn in the weather, while welcome to Somerset`s farmers, has done untold damage to the county`s prospects of victory in their opening match. Rain restricted play yesterday to 16 overs in 70 minutes before lunch. In this time, Somerset`s only gain was the wicket of Martin Bicknell, although the ball passed the bat frequently, with Andrew Caddick, bowling from the pavilion end, posing the biggest threat. Ironically, it was a ball that strayed a trifle down the leg side that won him success, Rob Turner taking a splendid low catch from Bicknell`s glance. Except for the first 21 overs of Surrey`s innings, while their openers, Darren Bicknell and Mark Butcher made merry, particularly at the expense of Kevin Shine, they have been outplayed. Despite a fortnight`s preparation in South Africa, they looked rusty. The record 86 extras they conceded not only undermined their immediate cause, but could also shake their morale in the long term. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)