Lymington teenager Gareth Schreuder, pictured, battled for almost three hours, hitting an unbeaten half-century to save Surrey from a Second XI Championship defeat against a powerful Middlesex side at the LSE Ground, New Malden.
The 19-year old, normally aggressive in his approach, knuckled down to hit a totally out-of-character 56 not out and guide Surrey to a draw at 136-7 after Middlesex set them 257 for victory in the second innings of the three-day match.
Schreuder, who also made an unbeaten fifty for Surrey IIs against Kent at Canterbury in May, batted for 168 minutes, facing 138 deliveries, successfully fending off Tim Murtagh, James Harris and Sri Lankan left-arm spinner Thilan Walallawita, who turned the ball prodigiously.
Bowled by Lord's Ireland bowling hero Tim Murtagh for six in the first innings , Schreuder kept wicket for a total of 148 overs in the game.
"I was totally exhausted at the end of it all," confessed the Hilton College youngster. "I have never kept wicket or batted for so long before and having to concentrate so hard against quality bowlers really took it out of me. It was turning so much I had to rely on sweep shots for the bulk of my runs."
But Shreuder's day wasn't finished. Exhausted, he peeled off his pads and went to catch the train back to his Fareham home - only to find Clapham Junction station in total chaos with thousands of stranded passengers milling about due to power problems affecting the entire southern network.
"It was the last thing I needed, especially lugging loads of kit around and then not getting a seat on the train," added the South African, who hopes to let the train take the strain and be back in time to play for Lymington against St Cross Symondians tomorrow lunchtime.
Match scores: Middlesex 220 and 300-4 (Gubbins 109*, Harris 80) Surrey 264 (Malik 111) and 136-7 (Schreuder 56*). Match drawn
The 19-year old, normally aggressive in his approach, knuckled down to hit a totally out-of-character 56 not out and guide Surrey to a draw at 136-7 after Middlesex set them 257 for victory in the second innings of the three-day match.
Schreuder, who also made an unbeaten fifty for Surrey IIs against Kent at Canterbury in May, batted for 168 minutes, facing 138 deliveries, successfully fending off Tim Murtagh, James Harris and Sri Lankan left-arm spinner Thilan Walallawita, who turned the ball prodigiously.
Bowled by Lord's Ireland bowling hero Tim Murtagh for six in the first innings , Schreuder kept wicket for a total of 148 overs in the game.
"I was totally exhausted at the end of it all," confessed the Hilton College youngster. "I have never kept wicket or batted for so long before and having to concentrate so hard against quality bowlers really took it out of me. It was turning so much I had to rely on sweep shots for the bulk of my runs."
But Shreuder's day wasn't finished. Exhausted, he peeled off his pads and went to catch the train back to his Fareham home - only to find Clapham Junction station in total chaos with thousands of stranded passengers milling about due to power problems affecting the entire southern network.
"It was the last thing I needed, especially lugging loads of kit around and then not getting a seat on the train," added the South African, who hopes to let the train take the strain and be back in time to play for Lymington against St Cross Symondians tomorrow lunchtime.
Match scores: Middlesex 220 and 300-4 (Gubbins 109*, Harris 80) Surrey 264 (Malik 111) and 136-7 (Schreuder 56*). Match drawn
