COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO, Guildford:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY TWO: Essex 401 Surrey 219-3 (Essex 5pts, Surrey 3pts)
15 - 18 July 2009

Walters is the fourth Surrey captain in as many months

Stand-in captain Stewart Walters hit his highest first-class score as Surrey fought back on day two against Essex.

Walters, leading Surrey in place of the injured Mark Butcher, hit an unbeaten 86 to help his side recover from 66-3.

And he shared an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 153 with Usman Afzaal (80no) as Surrey closed at Guildford on 219-3.

Earlier, Ryan ten Doeschate, 105 not out overnight, finished unbeaten on 159 - his highest first-class score for Essex - as the visitors made 401.

They resumed on 317-7, but saw ten Doeschate and James Middlesbrook added 61 for the eighth wicket.

Tim Linley then had David Masters caught behind, and although ten Doeschate launched a late attack to secure a fifth batting point, Essex were nine runs short of the 400 needed at the 120 overs cut-off.

Instead he had to be content with beating his previous Essex best of 148 before Tony Palladino was last out.

It was Palladino who made the initial breakthrough for Essex, having Michael Brown caught at slip by Matthew Walker, before Mark Ramprakash was out for a rare duck, gloving an attempted flick off Masters to James Foster.

And when Jonathan Batty ballooned a Graham Napier delivery to John Maunders, Surrey were deep in trouble.

But Walters and Afzaal dug in to still be there at stumps, both passing 50 on the way.

Walters reached the milestone in 80 balls and also passed his previous career best of 70, made against Durham in 2007, while Afzaal brought up his half-century in 65 deliveries.

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