James Ormond produced a superb display of fast bowling to sweep Surrey to victory at Chelmsford on Saturday.

The County champions beat Essex by 258 runs with Ormond claiming 5-82 to spearhead his side's second Championship win of the season and their overall performance suggests that it would be a major surprise if they were to fail to complete their fourth title success in five years.

Having declared overnight on 381-7, they set the home side a mammoth 506 to win with the realistic target for Essex that of mere survival by batting throughout the final day for a draw.

However, Ormond's performance ensured that was to prove a forlorn hope. The 25 year-old, who has two England Test caps, made the first incursion in the fourth over of the day when he removed Will Jefferson for 3.

Paul Grayson gave Ormond a second wicket when he played down the leg side and was caught for 19.

Andy Flower arrived at the crease to lead the Essex cause, but he soon had the hearts of the Essex faithful missing a beat when he followed a wide Ormond delivery outside off stump and almost found an edge.

Then, having faced 29 balls in reaching 6, the former Zimbabwe captain received a quick bouncer from Azhar Mahmood and gloved a catch to wicket-keeper Jon Batty.

In the next over, opener Darren Robinson became a third wicket for Ormond when he was rapped on the pads having scored 41 to leave his side 69-4 after 20 overs and facing the real prospect of their first defeat in five matches.

Aftab Habib and James Foster offered some welcome resistance, adding 119 for the fifth wicket. Then Ormond had Foster leg before for 42 to begin the final push towards victory.

Ronnie Irani struck two boundaries before he pushed out at Saqlain Mushtaq and was caught at forward short leg for 9 before Habib succumbed to Ormond for 61 from 101 deliveries.

By tea, another 20 runs had been added but Surrey wasted little time in delivering the knockout punches taking just 5 overs after the interval as they turned to spin at both ends.

Saqlain had Jon Dakin caught at second slip for 15 before leg-spinner Ian Salisbury snapped up the last two wickets with consecutive deliveries.

James Middlebrook was bowled through the gate for 13 and Scott Brant was caught at forward short leg leaving Graham Napier unbeaten on 15 with Essex dismissed for 247 in 62.2 overs and taking only five points from the game while Surrey gathered 21.

Published Monday, May 26, 2003

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