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Surrey fall to McMillan

New Zealand (328-6) bt Surrey (220) by 108 runs

A brutal 86 from Craig McMillan, made off only 54 balls, plus good support from Nathan Astle and Adam Parore, ensured that New Zealand set a formidable target for a Surrey side well short of full strength.

New Zealand's highly efficient cricket made it a one-sided contest, in which Surrey's later batsmen appeared to settle for getting some middle practice. This provided poor fair for the fans who paid £15 for entry.

They did, though, get plenty of value from the batting of McMillan who entered with New Zealand nought for one from two balls, Matt Horne having sliced Joey Benjamin to point, and proceeded to take the bowling apart with powerful hitting.

McMillan, who took three boundaries off Benjamin's second over with two fierce drives and one off the back-foot, dealt similarly with Michael Bell and, when Ben Hollioake came on to bowl waywardly took him for 33 runs in two overs.

McMillan had hit 10 fours and four sixes when he decided to reverse-sweep Ian Salisbury and was caught at short third man. Had he continued New Zealand would surely have topped 400 with something to spare.

Astle, though his 58 came off only 71 balls, looked a pedestrian by comparison. After McMillan's departure New Zealand lost their way rather, and might have fallen short of 300 but for Parore's run-a-ball 66 not out.

Surrey were up with the required rate for nine overs but after Ali Brown's brisk 38 ended with a catch at square leg and Hollioake had fallen leg before hitting across a full toss batting began to look difficult.

Darren Bicknell, back after a back operation, battled to 55, the top score. It was not challenging cricket and Surrey finally succumbed to Roger Twose, whose off-dobbers brought him four wickets.