Hampshire vs Surrey day two: Hampshire battle with the bat to ensure commanding lead

Hampshire: 149 & 296-6

Surrey: 162

Prost player of the day: James Vince 91 (59 balls)

A quick-fire 91 from James Vince turned the tables on Surrey as an aggressive Hampshire batting performance established a 283-run lead at stumps.

The day’s play:

Time wasn’t expected to be an issue in this match as 17 wickets fell on day one. In seamer friendly conditions, batsman struggled to find any sort of fluency in their game. Good old fashioned line and length was the order of the day as Surrey’s Rikki Clarke took 5-21. After being all out prior to tea, Hampshire then fought-back with the ball, as Keith Barker dismissed three of the London outfit’s top order for just seven runs.

With Surrey trailing by six runs but three wickets still in hand, there was little doubt that the morning session was going to play a crucial role to the grand context of the game.

It didn’t take long for Surrey to establish a lead as the two Clarke/Clark’s began with positive intent. But Kyle Abbott trapped the Clarke with an ‘e’ for a well made 40 soon after though, putting a stop to an important knock from the 37-year-old.

The incoming Morne Morkel might as well have done to a 360 degree u-turn as soon as he arrived at the crease after the South African was ran out for a duck in bizarre circumstances. The South African seemed to have ambled the first run before panicking the second. A desperate lunge couldn’t save him as Tom Alsop threw the stumps down.

Tailender Amar Virdi was then cleaned up in the following over as Surrey were bowled out for 162, a 14 run lead.

When the Royals did get themselves above parity in their second innings, it was already at the expense of a wicket. Ian Holland misjudged a full one and Morne Morkel managed to crash the top of off-stump.

Any sort of lead of over 200/220 could make the final and fourth innings interesting. With the lights on and the overcast grey skies above, batting continued to prove challenging.

However, Felix Organ appeared in good touch. Walking into lunch 47 not out, the 20-year-old opener put Hampshire in a commanding lead. Facing almost exclusively seam prior to the break, Organ displayed the suitable tempo batting on this surface requires.

The home side were 77-2 with Sam Northeast the perfect foil to Organ, unbeaten on 19.

Second session:

The other side of the break saw Organ pass his fifty before being dismissed just four runs later. But with James Vince and Sam Northeast at the crease, Hampshire’s two best and senior batsmen, the home side continued to build. Captain Vince raised his hand to the England selectors with a quick fire 54 from 39 balls. On a pitch that had unquestionably had demons on it, the assured nature of Vince’s innings after lunch highlighted the skill the man possess.

Fortunately for the visitors, the heavens above opened as the umpires decided to take an early tea break with Hampshire 150-3. It presented an opportunity for Ben Foakes and his side to regather their composure and refresh their impetus with the ball. Although the Ageas track seemed to be getting better, Foakes’ men needed wickets – and quick.

Final session:

Vince was supported well with Sam Northeast as the pair continued to put pressure back onto the Surrey bowlers with a brilliant 29-run partnership. There also would be no repeat for seamer Rikki Clarke after his five-for on day one. His seven overs in the second innings were wicketless and at the expensive cost of 49 runs.

Vince blazed the ball to all parts with a tempo to match a one-day game. Considering the ongoing issues batsman had in this game, the effortless nature of the captain’s innings emphasised how good the knock was.

However, there would be no deserved ton for Vince, who fell victim to the spin from Amar Virdi. Liam Dawson (39*) and Lewis McManus (14*) batted well to see through the innings until bad light put a halt to the day’s proceedings.