Despite Will Smale top-scoring with a career-best 105*, Surrey beat Glamorgan by five wickets (DLS Method) in a rain-affected game at The Oval in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup. (writes Andrew Hignell)

The reigning champions made two changes to their line-up from the side that lost the opening encounter against Hampshire at Neath with Sam Northeast returning in place of Billy Root and Dan Douthwaite replacing James Harris. The Welsh county, who have won their last three List A games against Surrey, were put in to bat after Ben Foakes – a late deputy as captain for Ryan Patel who was injured during the warm-ups - had won the toss. Eddie Byrom struck the day’s first boundary as he square drove James Taylor before eighteen year-old Alex French delivered fourteen wides in his opening over. Tribe then nurdled Taylor for four before Byrom drilled him through mid-wicket.

But with the total on 37 Byrom pulled a short ball from French to backward square-leg where Adam Thomas took a diving catch. Sam Northeast began by clipping Taylor to fine-leg for four before bringing up the fifty by drilling French through mid-off. He then clipped Taylor to fine-leg before on-driving him for another boundary as Glamorgan ended the powerplays on 66-1. Five runs later Tribe miscued a pull against French and was caught at mid-on by Foakes.

Kiran Carlson announced his arrival by on-driving Nathan Barnwell for four before pulling a free-hit to the ropes at mid-wicket. But later in the over Northeast inside-edged a ball into Josh Blake’s gloves. 88-3 saw Will Smale join Carlson and he opened his account by sweeping Yusuf Majid for four. However, after the pair had added a series of singles, Carlson feathered another ball from Barnwell into the wicket-keeper’s gloves.

117-4 saw Zain ul Hassan join Smale and he began by on-driving Barnwell for four, with Smale also pulling French for four when the teenager returned for a second spell at the Pavilion End. Ul Hassan then greeted Thomas’ medium-pace by pulling him twice for four as well as flicking him to fine-leg. Smale then nonchalantly on-drove Cam Steel for four. But with the total on 187, ul Hassan on-drove a slower ball from Barnwell into the hands of the fielder at mid-on.

With the total on 187-5, Douthwaite joined Smale and began with a brace of singles before Smale lofted Barnwell almost to the ropes at wide mid-wicket for three. He then completed his maiden List A fifty from 62 balls by late-cutting Majid for two but with the total on 213 Taylor returned and with his first delivery removed Douthwaite who edged to Blake. Alex Horton joined Smale and reverse-swept Steel for four, before pulling a full toss from the spinner to the ropes at square-leg.

Smale also opened his shoulders as he plonked Taylor over mid-on for four before Horton deftly ramped Steel for four. He then saw Glamorgan to the 250-mark by sweeping Majid for four. Smale then swept Steel for six before scooping Taylor for another maximum over fine-leg. He then struck a free-hit from Taylor for a rasping four through mid-off before Horton swatted the pace bowler to long-off for four.

Smale then moved into the 90’s by slog-sweeping Steel for six followed by a fierce cover drive for four. Horton then did the same, before Smale completed his maiden List A century from 99 balls with a classical cover-drive for a single. Next ball, Horton flashed once too often at Taylor and was caught behind as Andy Gorvin joined Smale for the last ten deliveries with Glamorgan ending on 308-7.

Rory Burns and Adam Thomas began Surrey’s chase against the bowling of ul Hassan and Ned Leonard. Burns cover drove Leonard for four as the floodlights also came on at a sultry Oval. Thomas then square-drove ul Hassan but the bowler struck in his third over as Horton pouched an inside edge from Burns as Surrey lost their first wicket on 19. But three balls later a lightning flash sent the players off the field. Play resumed at 1750 with Surrey needing a further 125 in 10.5 overs. After Leonard had completed his over, Douthwaite entered the attack at the Vauxhall End and was edged for four by Nikil Gorantla. But next ball he spooned a catch back to the bowler as Surrey lost their second wicket on 31.

Ollie Sykes announced his arrival by twice straight-driving Andy Gorvin for four before driving the bowler into Northeast’s hands at cover. 42-3 saw Ben Foakes join Thomas who drilled Franco for two fours through mid-off before twice hoisting him in the same direction for six. But his cameo ended next over as Carlson running back from mid-on took a brilliant one-handed catch diving backwards to remove Thomas with the total on 65.

Foakes came in and on-drove Douthwaite for a trio of fours as Surrey’s task became 59 from 5 overs. Foakes straight-drove Carlson for four before Blake clipped a no-ball from Douthwaite to fine-leg. Surrey’s equation duly became 40 from 18 balls. Foakes responded by straight-driving Carlson for six, followed by a sweep for another maximum to reduce the task to 23 from 12 balls. Foakes kept up the charge with a six to square-leg against Gorvin plus a series of two’s as Surrey’s task became 8 to win from the final over by Douthwaite. Blake swiped the first ball to mid-wicket for four but was bowled by the third delivery, but the next ball was deemed a no ball on height before the next one was also a no-ball as Surrey got home by five wickets.