Bicknell bowls Surrey to verge of victory over Northants

Martin Bicknell, Guildford born and bred, took Surrey to the brink of victory on the second day of their CricInfo Championship match against Northants on his home ground.

Replying to Northants' paltry first innings 120, Surrey extended their lead to 248 thanks to an Ally Brown century. It was at the leafy Surrey ground that Brown set the Sunday league record in 1997 with an innings of 203. Today he made an attractive 103, his second century against Northants this season.

But it was Bicknell (5-35), in the selectors' thoughts for Lord's this week, who crushed the downcast visitors. Rain ended play ten overs early with Northants 99-5 still 149 behind.

A spell of 4-6 off 25 balls by Bicknell from the bouncy Railway End removed the Northants middle order of Mal Loye, Russell Warren, Mike Hussey and Tony Penberthy.

The season's-best made it 39 first-class wickets for the man who took 16-119, a ground record, in last year's Guildford Festival against Leicestershire.

Bicknell told CricInfo: "There's obviously more bounce than there has ever been, especially from the Railway End, though most of my success in previous years has been from the Pavilion End. It's always been my favourite ground."

As for England hopes, he said: "Some people told me I was in, then people told me I was out."

He added: "Guildford's always been a defining week for us. We always seem to win here. To get 19 points tomorrow would surely send a few shudders up the M1 to Yorkshire."

As for the elusive 'ten-for', he said: "It would be nice to, but Mr Tudor might have something to say about it."