The match was beautifully set for a fast-moving final day, following a brilliant century from Ollie Sykes in the first innings as well as four-wicket hauls for James Taylor and Harry Gardner.

Credit to a strong showing in the opening three days, Surrey started the final morning 245 runs ahead. However, they got off to a rockier start than they would have liked, losing two wickets in quick succession. Left-arm seamer Raymond Bailey bowled Adam Thomas for a fluent 66 with a curling inswinger before Sam Greer beat the defence of Nathan Farmer two balls later.

Lloyd, who looked in fine form in the first innings, now joined by Nathan Barnwell, carried on his merry way though. Unleashing some excellent drives and sweeps, the right-hander was able to find a boundary almost every over as he crossed fifty for a second time in the match with a cheeky paddle sweep.

Worcestershire got the breakthrough of Barnwell (11) and ended the 47-run alliance through the left-arm off-spin of Fateh Singh but still were unable to find an answer to Lloyd’s stroke-play.

While wickets continued to tumble from one end, with left-arm wrist spinner Tom Hinley dismissing Alex Dodson (14), James Taylor and Yousef Majid, Lloyd carried on mounting Surrey’s lead from the other.

After he slog swept Singh for two sixes in three balls, taking Surrey to 253/8 and a lead of 375 runs, skipper Sykes decided it was enough and declared the innings, giving Worcestershire 70 overs to chase a lofty target.

Surrey’s hunt for ten wickets could not have kicked off in a better way, Taylor striking on the first ball of the innings as du Plooy, getting caught up between playing or leaving the ball just outside his off stump, nicked behind to Thomas at second slip.

Isaac Mohammed and Seth Essenhigh gave some hope to the Pears, scoring 72 runs off 90 balls for the second wicket, but their burgeoning partnership was ended when Jack Martin delivered an unplayable, in-swinging yorker to rattle the stumps of left-handed Mohammed for 36.

Fired up after finding a crucial breakthrough, the Three Feathers rallied on that momentum and brought about a collapse as the Pears slid from 72/1 to 119/7.

Barnwell bowled a speedy five-over spell, proving too hot to handle for Alfie Higgins (1), Joseph Porter (4) and Singh (6). From the other end, Martin collected his second as Hinley holed out to mid-on for two, while Majid clean bowled the set batter Essenhigh for 45.

Batting alongside Harry Darley, who finished the game unbeaten on 16, bowlers Greer and then Bailey offered some resistance and played a few big shots, adding 28 and 27 runs for the final two wickets, with TE Davis unavailable to bat.

Greer’s cameo was curtailed when Majid got him stumped for 28 while Bailey, who strolled down the pitch after being struck on his feet by Seb Stuart-Reckling’s accurate yorker, was run out by Thomas’ clever direct hit from the slip cordon to end the final and complete a convincing 201-run victory for Surrey.

Right after the match, the Three Feathers got their hands on the Second XI Championship shield with a track record of five wins from six matches throughout the summer.