TO SCORE 506 to win always appeared beyond the ambition and capabilities of Essex. So, it soon proved, was the gumption required to bat all day on a firm, ideal pitch. James Ormond removed four prime batsmen and the wicketkeeper, bowling with sufficient hostility to suggest that whatever was happening at Lord’s, he will add to his two Test caps, writes Ivo Tennant.

The most important consideration had been whether Surrey, in batting on for as long as they had on Friday, had given themselves sufficient time in which to bowl out Essex. Development manager Keith Fletcher thought rain would reach Chelmsford by mid-afternoon, but Surrey had time to wrap up victory by 258 runs shortly after tea.

There was no deterioration in the pitch: if anything, the square here plays better the longer a match lasts. So credit to Ormond for maintaining a sharp pace, cutting the ball back at the batsmen and impressing on England’s selectors that, at a time when various quick bowlers are unable to shake off injuries, he is fit and among the leading wicket- takers in the country.

In the fourth over of the morning, Ormond had Will Jefferson leg-before playing half-forward. This was his 300th first-class wicket. Paul Grayson was caught by Jon Batty flicking down the leg side, Darren Robinson went shaping to play to leg and, later, the former Leicestershire fast bowler came back to some effect.

Aftab Habib, who made his first half-century of the season mainly through pleasing drives, added 100 in 23 overs with James Foster.

Then Ormond returned and had one lbw and the other caught behind off as sharp a lifting ball as Andy Flower had received from Azhar Mahmood earlier. Victory came swiftly after that.

Flower, so sorely missed by Zimbabwe yesterday, arrived at the wicket at just about the same time as his brother Grant was leaving it at Lord’s.

The ball from Azhar that flicked his glove as he attempted to evade it, was devilishly quick.

What with that and Ronnie Irani struggling with knee trouble and swiftly dismissed, Essex were scuppered.

Any batsman who has managed to see off an opening attack of Ormond, Azhar and Martin Bicknell, who had to leave the field with a damaged finger, then has to contend with Saqlain Mushtaq and Ian Salisbury, two Test spinners, who, ably assisted by the close catchers, finished off the Essex tail.