Giddins has last laugh

Ed Giddins was bound to be noticed during the Benson and Hedges Cup Final at Lord's.

But the three key wickets that contributed hugely to Surrey's well deserved 47-run success over holders Gloucestershire meant the seamer stood out for something other than his newly bleached blond hairstyle.

Most spectators assumed that game for a laugh, Giddins had decided to turn his brown barnet a whiter shade of pale as part of some curious ritual to mark Surrey's big day out.

In fact, Giddins had no choice after losing an argument with team-mate and man of the match Ben Hollioake.

"I had a difference of opinion with Ben a couple of days before the final - and I'm afraid my opinion was wrong," confessed Giddins, whose dismissals of Kim Barnett, Ian Harvey and Matt Windows destroyed Gloucestershire's hopes of challenging Surrey's 244 all out.

"All I can say is that I made a statement about something that happens when a plane comes into land. Ben disagreed, he was right and the price of me being wrong was to have my hair dyed blond for the final."

Between them, Giddins and Hollioake scuppered Gloucestershire's bid for a fifth consecutive Lord's triumph.

Hollioake scored 73 after his side had been struggling on 118 for five while Giddins followed up a fine opening burst from new-ball pair Martin Bicknell and Alex Tudor.

The B&H Cup was their sixth piece of silverware in as many summers and they believe a seventh title can be added before this season is over.

Surrey are 42 points adrift of leaders Yorkshire in their bid for a third consecutive Championship but believe last Saturday's success will give them just the boost they need.