da bet7： Alastair Cook has rare bowl as contest peters out after third-day washout
ECB Reporters' Network15-Sep-2021
Hashim Amla held firm to secure a draw for Surrey•PA Images via Getty Images
Hashim Amla led Surrey’s rearguard action with huge skill and commitment as Essex were forced to accept a final-day draw in their LV= Insurance County Championship match at the Kia Oval.In truth, it was the loss of the whole of day three to bad weather which really cost Essex the chance of adding a third successive Division Two victory to wins against Glamorgan and Gloucestershire in the past fortnight.But Amla’s impressive batsmanship, which saw him make 34 not out in a second innings total of 113 for 2 after scoring 84 first time around, was the main reason they were unable to bowl Surrey out twice after the home side resumed on 107 for 7 and initially reached 161 in reply to Essex’s first-innings 439.Both before and after Surrey followed on, it was 38-year-old Amla who presented the broadest of bats to Essex’s classy bowling attack before hands were shaken at 4.34pm, with 17 overs unbowled. Essex take 15 points, and Surrey 9.First, Amla resisted for almost 40 overs at the start of day four before being ninth out when adjudged leg-before to Simon Harmer, the off spinner finally winning an appeal from around the wicket when the former South African great went back and across his stumps as he looked to whip to leg.Amla had started the day on 58 and, in all, occupied the crease for five and a half hours for his 209-ball 84 having arrived as early as the second over of the innings at No 3.Then, when Ryan Patel edged Harmer to slip to go for 17 to leave Surrey on 28 for 1, after they had been asked to follow on 35 minutes into the second session and with a minimum of 53 overs remaining, it was Amla who again stood firm.Cameron Steel fell 13 overs later for 28, shouldering arms to seamer Shane Snater and seeing the ball nip back to rattle his off and middle stumps, but Amla was joined by Ollie Pope in a third-wicket alliance that saw out the game.