Woeful Surrey written off by their own chairman

One senior Surrey official has admitted in a letter to club members that the county's performances this summer are "not acceptable".

They finished last but one in their Friends Provident Trophy group, bottom of the Twenty20 Cup south division and yesterday's victory over Northants in the Pro40 League was only their seventh from 34 starts in all competitions this year.

"This season's performances have been very disappointing and well below the expectations of all of us," wrote Roger Harman, Surrey cricket committee chairman, in his letter to members. He added: "I believe our performances so far this season are not acceptable."

Harman, a former spin bowler for Surrey, is due to attend a members' meeting this week.

Essex, meanwhile, avenged their Twenty20 Cup semi-final defeat last month with a five-wicket win over Kent at Lord's to lift the Friends Provident Trophy.