And from Alfonce Mbizwo:

As a Zimbabwean I was hoping Taylor will shine today but that Hales guy has been monumental.

Indeed! But Taylor was vital in the two knockouts...

From Geoff Wignall... (As Alex Hales collects something he will no doubt be downing shortly because he is man of the match):

I’m just guessing here, but will Stonemano be the first player to make 140 plus in a Lord’s final without winning the Man of the Match award? Or the match, come to that.

Correct on both counts, I believe.

Turns out I don’t need to dash round to the other side of Lord’s to interview people – they are coming to us!

Some emails (thanks for all of these)!

From Ian Copestake:

I remember well Read being touted alongside a certain G. Hick as breakthrough figures for Worcestershire. Time has indeed flown.

How it has! A sweet, sweet victory for Read, in his final season. Can they do the treble?

Wow. What an effort from Alex Hales! I am off to talk to him and the other key characters - I have lots of lovely emails in my inbox that I haven’t had time to get to (apologies, but the paper copy won’t write itself!), but I will when I’m back shortly...

Scores are level! Pattinson top-edges over Foakes and that’s four down to the Pavilion!

Just three from the 47th. Six required from three overs... Hales on strike to Scurran.

Nine required, four overs to go.

Wicket! Read gone! Hope for Surrey? Scurran digs it in, and Read pulls hard, but straight to Stoneman out there on the fence in front of the Grandstand. The Notts fans in the Compton stand in applause. He made 58 from 57, and provided Hales with the required support. Pattinson in, with 11 required, and Hales on 185.

John Starbuck is excited!

When Notts do win this, it will be a nice trophy for Chris Read in his final season. Also, when Notts do win this, I’m going to get well drunk. Anyone else?

Based on the noise in the Compton Stand, you won’t be alone... 15 needed.

Five overs left, 16 required. A cruise, surely.

So, six overs to go, and Notts look very comfy. They need 21 to win from 36. Hales needs 16 for 200...

50 for Read! What a man. Dug in by Scurran and he ducks, but it hits his bat and they scuttle through for one.

Eight overs remain, and Notts need 33. Hales has 176 and looks pretty tired. Read has 47...

Hales has just inside-edged past his stumps for four and I make that his first false shot since being dropped on nine. He has 170 now, and Notts need just 42... 61 balls left.

250 up for Notts as Read edges fine! He has 43, and Notts need just 47 from 10.5.

An email from Geoff Wignall!

At last a worthy successor to Sir Geoffrey! And to think some thought it would be Hameed. Presumably the Boycott knock was in a 60 over game though.

That is correct! Read moves to 37 with a delicious cover drive off Ravi R. 244 for five, 55 required.

Nine from Tom Curran’s over, and Notts need 61 from 13... These two have now stuck on 86 and read has 32, the third highest score of the match after Stoneman and Hales’s brilliant hundreds.

I mentioned that this is the highest score in a Lord’s final but failed to mention who Hales overtook: Geoff Boycott’s 146 in 1963 (also against Surrey!) in the third ever Lord’s final. Amazing that it’s stood for so long.

Hales is moving through the gears now. A flick through backward square – a very productive area today – brings four more, and he has 163 of 227 for five. Notts require 71 off 14.1.

A second six of the over for Hales and Notts bring up the 200! 15 from Borthwick’s return.

At the end of the 32nd, it’s 202 for five, and they need 96.

Adam Roberts writes:

As a Notts fan, I don’t want a ‘cracking finish’.

Good point ... but as a neutral *evil laugh* I do. Then again, as a journalist trying to run a liveblog and file on the whistle ... perhaps I don’t either!

Borthwick back into the attack for the 32nd and Hales launches him into the Grandstand for six! 105 required from 18.5...

A single from every ball of Batty’s over. 173 for five, 125 required from 21.

England women play Sri Lanka at Taunton tomorrow. Get around this:

Good over for Surrey: Hales hoicks Scurran for four behind square, then Read cover-drives beautifully.

10 from it, Notts 167 for five, and need 131 from 22.

Read is in with Hales (116) now and, with 23 overs remaining, Notts are 157 for five, and need 141.

Wowzer that’s not a great decision.

Tom Westley has a hundred for the Lions! Class act. The score is 262 for two, and Ballance is on 56.

Wicket! Mullaney had been struggling – he was almost stumped off Batty – and now he’s gone to Scurran! Lbw, but looks like it might have been sliding down...

Notts are 150 for five, and need 148 from 24.5 overs.

So, after 20 overs, Hales has 98 of 130 for four.

Wicket! Brendan Taylor had just played a delightful straight drive to become the second Notts player to hit double figures (Hales has, what, 97?) but he’s gone! He tried to guide Jade down to third man for one but has nibbled through to Foakes! Jade really enjoyed that.

Notts are 128 for four. They need 170 from 30.2 overs with six wickets in hand and a bit of a tail.

An email from John Starbuck!

A while ago, TMS commentators conjured up a picture of Geoff Boycott sweating away as his record 146 in 1965 was approached by that Surrey bloke. Any odds on the score being toppled still?

As Hales moves to 95 (of 123 for three), you have to fancy there’s a decent chance... Only 19 overs gone!

Batty time!

Rampaul has got through half of his overs, and has two for 23. Tidy. Back comes Jade, swapping ends to the Nursery. 112 for three after 17, and Hales has 90. They need 186.

Oh Samit! Rampaul has two. He’s dug it in at Patel and he’s pulled. Why?! There are two men back, and it goes straight down the throat of Scurran, stationed at fine leg. 104 for three, and Hales has 85. This is shaping up as a belter...

Hales on to 82 ... Notts are 100 for two. 198 more required in 36 overs.

Interesting. Badger Borthwick is coming on to bowl the 14th over! Bit of excitement in the press box, for he is a leggie. Pace off was the key as Notts pegged Surrey back, so they’ve got to hope the story’s the same here.

Notts are 91 for two, and Hales has 75 of them. They need him gone!

Hales is getting after his mate Currant, taking three successive fours in the 12th: through cover, down the ground, and clobbered through midwicket. He has 70 from 48, and Notts are 85 for two chasing 298.

I really, really miss the Currant bun. Rory Burns’s, too.

So Wessels is gone, and Hales has a very fine 35-ball 50. It was Rampaul, bowling his first over, who got Wessels, and the lbw decision looked a decent one. Samit in at No4. I feel like this is his final. Notts are 72 for two in the 12th, chasing 298.

Hales on to 45, with a lofted drive off Currant, who has replaced Scurran... 52 for one is the score.

Hahah I love Luke Fletcher! The Notts fans are in the Compton and he’s coming back from having a net on the Nursery Ground giving big fistpumps to the Notts fans in the Compton. What a man.

Hales, dropped on 9, has raced to 40 from 24 balls. He goes big over extra cover then pulls in front of square for a pair of fours off Scurran.... He has 40 of Notts’ 46...

Here’s the wicket.

Jade Dernbach has some blonde swishes in his hair!

Wicket! Scurran gets Lumb and Notts are one down! Rapped on pad, hitting leg halfway up I reckon. Gotta go son. 25 for one.

There’s the first six of the day! Scurran bangs it in, Hales rocks back and pulls him just over the fence to the Grandstand.

Mmmm.

Drop. Oh dear, that’s not great. Hales has been dropped at cover by Pope off Scurran. He’s hit it very hard but that needs to be taken, really. 10 for none after two.

Vic’s written about Root and the gang!

The Lions are 170 for two. England’s Gary Ballance in on 14, and Westley’s with him on 58.

Here we go then. Apologies for my absence, been upstairs doing a spot of radio. We’ve had a ball - a dot from Dernbach to Lumb, and now he’s off the mark with a single to third man.

Five comical wides as Dernbach hops about in the crease, Gurney follows him, he goes so wide and it goes through everyone, Read included. It was outside the tramlines! Jade then scrambles a pair of twos, the first lapped, the second to long-off. And now he goes. Penultimate ball of the innings, he sticks it down long-off’s throat. They cross, so Stoneman will be on strike for the final ball. He has 144, Surrey are 296 for nine...

Fun penultimate over, that. Batty’s wicket, then some pantomime fodder between Dernbach, the new batsman, and Fletch. Lovely. Anyway, six balls to go, 286 for six. Stoneman on strike on 144.

Wicket! Batty’s gone now, trying to stick Fletch in the Tavern. He didn’t, and was bowled. 282 for eight. Strange innings, this. He made 11, Stoneman has 141. 10 balls left.

Mmm what’s happened here? Batty’s had a big heave at Gurney, got a little nibble through and Read appears to have taken a decent low catch. He’s not sure, nor is Batty, so they have a look upstairs and he is ... not out. Bounced just in front. 279 for seven.

Three to go, Surrey 276 for seven, can they grab 300?

Fletch is back! He bowled three expensive overs at the start, and he’s got time for three more now, from the Nursery End. Surrey are 262 for seven, with five to go.

Samit again! I had barely noticed...

Samit’s poles.

What was I saying about the running between the wickets? Oh dear. CurranT has gone, run out. He drove Broad out to deep cover, they ran the first mighty hard, and Stoneman was intent on taking the second. He turn and set off, but CurranT was having none of it. Throw came in to the keeper’s end and he had the wherewithal to get past Stoneman so that it’s him to go, not the fella on 126.

Batty in, probably with an axe to grind, and Surrey are 255 for seven.

Correct. Has run brilliantly between the wickets today. 254 for six after 44 as Samit finishes with three for 51.

That’s Pattinson done for the day, then. His 10 overs cost 48 and he picked up the wicket of Scurran too. In that final over he was slapped for four over midwicket by CurranT. 249 for six after 43.

Here’s the Scurran wicket.

Scurran replaced by CurranT, who is beaten for pace outside off by Pattinson, who has one over left. He’s got one for 37 and has bowled very nicely.

Wicket! Pattinson has bowled Scurran! Played down the wrong line, done for pace, the lot. Probably a little “see ya later” on the way off, too. Surrey are 228 for six. Stoneman still there, on 115.

So at the 40 over mark, Surrey are 226 for five. Stoneman has 114 and Scurran is 23. This has been a great fightback from Notts. Interesting enough pitch, though: pace off has been effective, but Surrey flew in the first 10.

And it’ll be Broad from the other end... 210 for five.

Mullaney’s taken two for 50 from his nine, but he’s being replaced by Pattinson. 14 overs to go, Surrey 206 for five.

So, 33 gone. Surrey are 191 for five, and Stoneman is on 97...

Interesting point. Maybe that’s why England have picked a second “spinner”. Samit’s just received a huge hand from the Notts fans in the Grandstand. He doffs his cap... Has three for 28 from six right now.

Wicket! Pope goes! Samit with his third, and Mullaney has been involved in every wicket! Pope has had a drive, got an edge and he’s snaffled a low beauty at slip. That’s his third catch. Surrey are collapsing in a final again... They have lost four for 39, and are 180 for five. Scurran in now.

Ollie Pope off the mark with a lovely cover driven four, just as I was saying I’d have sent Scurran in ahead of him. 180 for four.

Here’s the Foakes wicket:

And another! Foakes gone for one! He’s been bowled by Mullaney, playing inside a straight one. Surrey are 175 for four, and this has been a belting comeback from Notts.

Wicket! Samit has another! Very, very soft. Borthwick has just turned him to midwicket. He put on 31 with Stoneman, who has moved on to 90. After 30 overs, Surrey are 172 for three. Ben Foakes in. I spoke to him...

An email from Ian Copestake. Shame you’re not here but have a great time in town!

I had the chance to come to Lord’s today as I am in town from Frankfurt, but the price was the final factor in putting me off. The woes of a budget traveller.

So after 26 overs, Surrey are 148 for two. Samit and Mullaney have been the best bowlers, and pace off is working. Stoneman has 78, his highest score of the season in this comp.

Samit back on at the Nursery End now. Lovely reaction from Sanga here:

Jennings gone at Worcester, by the way, to Morkel for 39. Westley in at No3. Wondered if they might stick Ballance up there because that’s the job he’s doing for England. Anyway. The Lions are 76 for one.

Wicket! Mullaney’s done the trick! He’s got the big one. Read, standing up, has him caught behind pushing outside off without much foot movement. Really good catch, and Sangakkara is on his way for 30 from 36.

Surrey are 141 for two after 22.5 as Badger Borthwick strides out to meet Stoneman.

As Mullaney is beautifully cut through backward point for four, there’s a lot of talk about ticket prices... Pretty sure they are £30 today.

Couple of boundaries for Sanga off Broad in the 22nd – glanced very fine then dabbed fine at third man, too. He’s glided to 30 and Surrey are 136 for one. Stoneman has 68. Broad is bowling very nicely.

20 overs done and Surrey are 124 for none. In the last five overs, they have scored just 24; Notts have done nicely to peg them back.

An email from Romeo!

Have you got any figures for how many are in the ground? Is the upper Tavern closed for works or just because there aren’t enough people there? That’s where Mullaney’s drop came from, wasn’t it? Blinded by the white?

No idea how many are in yet, I’m afraid. My guess is 15,000 but I could be wildly wrong. Should hear at lunchtime-ish. I think the Upper Tavern is just shut because there aren’t enough members in so they siphoned them off elsewhere. I would guess that would have been in Mullaney’s eyeline, yeah.

Mullaney’s through his first over, and Surrey are 116 for one after 19. Sangakkara has ghosted his way to 15, while Stoneman has 63 – he’s looking very good.

The sun seems to have poked through! Broad and Pattinson have pulled things back a bit, so it’s time for some Mullaney from the Pavilion End. 110 for one after 18.

The Lions are 60 for none at Worcester. Jennings going nicely, Robbo crawling along...

Surrey’s 100 up in the 16th. Stoneman has 54, Sanga 9.

Here he is! Replaces Samit after one over at the Nursery End. Decent start. 95 for one.

Fifty for Stoneman! Lovely cut behind point off Samit brings Stoneman his seventh boundary, and a 50 from 45 balls.

Surrey 90 for one after 12.

Here’s that wicket.

Samit strikes! He’s into the attack from the Pavilion End and first ball he’s got Roy caught at extra cover! He was just trying to turn him into the legside, but has got a fat old leading edge and has to go. Very slow trudge off ... King Kumar in, and Surrey are 83 for one.

Notts have been pretty dire so far. Two drops, bowling poor (until Pattinson came on). 74 for none after 10. Could be massive.

Michael Vaughan thinks Nottinghamshire are drunk or hungover or both.

Ha! That was a very bad drop.

Dropped! Oh my, that’s a stinker. Stoneman has just middled Gurney to cover, where Mullaney has shelled a doozy. Did he not see it? Stoneman had 32, and has just picked up three more. 66 for none after eight... Each batsman badly dropped.

Pattinson’s first ball nips back and raps Roy on the back pad. Umpire says no, presumably on height.

Good question! Placement, I’d say. Roy looked grim first up but has found his stride, and Stoneman has been ticking since his first ball. Here comes Pattinson, and about time too. 55 for none after six.

Well Surrey are off to a flyer. Roy has just slapped Fletch through the covers twice, and then round the corner past the man at 45. And there’s four more through cover for Stoneman... 51 for none after 5.4.

Good question from Matthew Doherty.

Re the squad for the first test should Mason Crane have been picked as second spinner?

I sense he wasn’t far off, but knowing Mason, I think he needs more time to bed in at Champo level. He might get a game against the Windies...

Surrey are seven without loss after one. A lovely cover drive from Stoneman. Gurney from t’other end.

And he’s been dropped first ball! He’s wafted outside off, got a tickle and Wessels has put him down at first slip! Straight through the hands.

Well, the players are coming out at Lord’s! Roy on strike to Fletcher.

Another shout for my chat with Ben Foakes before we get going.

Ah yes, the Lions are playing against South Africa at New Road. They are starting on time, and SA have declared, so England’s Test men Keaton Jennings and Gary Ballance will get a bat pretty soon.

What did you all make of the Test squad? I don’t get the Dawson selection at all, but the rest is pretty solid (Stoneman very unlucky I reckon). If you missed it, it’s here.

Barney’s written about Ali Cook, and it’s excellent.

Interesting point. Brendan Taylor went absolutely bananas in the knockouts, and every man in Notts’ top six is in great nick. Difficult to see how he would have got in.

There are definitely tickets available for today if you’re in London and fancy watching some belting cricket ... get yourself down.

So this will be Chris Read and Kumar Sangakkara’s final county game at Lord’s. Both feature for the MCC against Afghanistan in 10 days time, which should be a belting fixture. McCullum, Shiv and Misbah are all playing, as well as county gems like Stuart Meaker and Chris of the Rushworths.

Here’s yer boy Gareth Batty explaining his decision at the toss.

So the warmups have moved from the Nursery to the outfield: or, in other words, they have stopped playing football and they are doing catching and actual cricket stuff. Toss in 2.

Big crowd out at the Nursery End watching the Lions.

SHOCK

Nick Butler’s sent me an email backing his team, Notts. Who are you barracking for? Two well supported clubs on a big day out. Can Surrey bury the demons of the last two finals? Can Broad – he’s fit – and Hales (or, more to the point, Samit) carry Notts to victory?

Get in my inbox or on my Twitters!

Stuie’s backing Notts! Enjoy work, pal.

Early morning stat attack!