Hampshire's Bowlers Battle Hard To Stay In The Hunt On Day Three

Hampshire's bowlers fought hard to put the pressure on Surrey on the penultimate day of their Specsavers County Championship clash against Surrey at the Kia Oval.

The visitors' attack dug deep and put in a determined performance on an unresponsive wicket as Surrey finished on 410-7, Kyle Abbott (2-45) and Fidel Edwards (2-104) claiming two scalps apiece.

After resuming the day on 103-1, Rory Burns promptly reached his half-century, but Mason Crane (1-122) trapped Conor McKerr (1) in front in his second over of the day, the night-watchman walking across his stumps to leave Surrey on 128-2.

Scott Borthwick survived a huge LBW appeal shortly after before Abbott found the edge of Burns, but it fell inches short of the slips as Hampshire made a disciplined start to the day.

The seamer continued to bowl just outside the off stump and after 11 consecutive dot balls, Borthwick (3) feathered the ball through to Lewis McManus as Surrey fell to 137-3.

Both Abbott and Crane continued to bowl tight lines, but Jason Roy played with aggression and was well supported by Burns as the pair reached the fifty partnership in less than ten overs.

Gareth Berg (1-58) entered the attack and ended their stand in just his second over, as the ball swung back in and wrapped Roy (27) on the pads as Hampshire started to take control of the game.

The Hampshire attacked bowled with guile as the hosts scored just 91 runs for the loss of three wickets in the morning session, with Surrey being restricted to 204-4.

Burns showed why he was capable of being captain in the absence of Gareth Batty, with the Surrey skipper moving to his century shortly after the lunch interval, showing great responsibility at the crease.

Burns and Dominic Sibley edged to their fifty partnership, but the visitors bowled accurately, with just 50 runs being added in the first hour of the afternoon session.

Crane then had several appeals turned down before Sibley survived with a couple of inside edges onto his pads, as the visitors continued to bowl in good areas and make scoring difficult for Surrey.

Sibley reached his half-century off 118 balls as the batsman was made to work for his runs, before George Bailey opted to take the new ball.

Abbott and Berg continued to bowl well, but the stand between Burns and Sibley moved into three figures as the pair showed why it was a good batting wicket at the Kia Oval.

However, the new ball brought success as Abbott got the ball to cut back in but Sibley (57) offered no shot and was trapped in front to break the partnership and leave Surrey on 297-5.

Hampshire came back out after tea in search of quick wickets, and one soon came when Fidel Edwards lured Ben Foakes (14) into a pull which went straight to Rilee Rossouw who took a good catch at square-leg.

Edwards then got his second wicket in quick succession when Sam Curran (12) was caught behind by McManus as Surrey fell to 348-7.

However, Burns (174*) was still continuing to score comfortably, and swiftly moved past his 150 despite the pressure on his shoulders.

The opening batsmen batted the entire day's play and alongside Tom Curran (35*), he guided Surrey to 410-7 at the close of play.