The traditional curtain raiser of the domestic first-class season, played between MCC and 2018 Specsavers County Champions Surrey, has ended in a rain-affected draw.
Although only 19 overs were bowled on the final day, Surrey had managed to claim three wickets before weather halted proceedings just after the lunch interval.
With a number of players looking to find some early-season form, the Champion County fixture featured three centurions. Surrey’s teenage debutant Jamie Smith (127) and England International, Ollie Pope (251) helped their side to a healthy first innings total of 520.
Pope, looking to regain a place in England’s Test squad, eventually fell to Will Rhodes in an impressive innings that included 29 boundaries. Dom Sibley scored 128 in MCC’s second innings, before being bowled by Rikki Clarke in the penultimate over of play.
The first round of the Specsavers County Championship gets underway on Friday 5th April, with Middlesex playing their first fixture at Lord’s on Thursday 11th April.
Scorecard