Sai Sudharsan’s exceptional 73 and late runs from Jordan Clark (50 not out) took Surrey to 207 against Hampshire kept this LV= Insurance County Championship game in the balance after a weather-affected stop-start day two at The Ageas Bowl.
Liam Dawson moved to 45 wickets with his fourth five-wicket haul of the season. It’s the left-arm spinners’ best batting season since 2015 and best-ever bowling campaign as his five for 44 kept Surrey waiting in their quest to squash last contenders Essex.
Surrey were eventually bowled out for 12 runs short of Hampshire’s total and 93 short of winning the crown. Hampshire’s lead was increased by one in a truncated 20 balls before bad light ended proceedings for the day.
Surrey needed to get to 300 in 110 overs to make sure they claimed the bonus points required to be confirmed champions for a second year in a row.
They began the day on 47 for two, replying to Hampshire’s 219, and by the time Ryan Patel had hoicked to deep midwicket off Dawson, they had batted watchfully to add 13 runs on a tricky morning.
It would be Patel’s last action of the match as Jamie Smith will come in for him for the third innings of the match.
While Hampshire’s tidy bowling was keeping a check on the run rate, Ben Foakes became the next batter to fall, although was highly unlucky to be given out lbw going back to Dawson.
Sudharsan was by no means lucid in his batting, but his classical style was pleasant on the eyes and accumulated runs at a workmanlike tempo.
The 21-year-old is one to watch in world cricket having struck a stunning 96 in the IPL final early this year, to go with two centuries in nine previous first-class matches.
His defence was solid, but his coup de gras was his varied shot-making, with proficiency shown on the drive, sweep and wristiness. Sudharsan reached his maiden Championship fifty in exactly 100 balls.
He had been joined by Will Jacks – who had replaced Tom Lawes after returning from England duty – and the rate of scoring increased for a short period.
Jacks twice took on Ian Holland’s medium pace and twice dispatched the ball over the ropes, which helped the morning scoring to 67 runs.
Sudharsan was the victim of big bounce out the footholds from Dawson, as the Indian gloved to short leg, with Jacks leg before to James Fuller in the following over to a ball that kept low.
Dawson picked up his fourth when Cam Steel was lbw and Holland bowled a swinging Jamie Overton.
Jordan Clark belligerently scored a 75 balls half-century, his 21st in first-class cricket, as he put in 32 with Kemar Roach before the West Indian was caught at first slip with the second new ball.
Clark also scored all 15 runs with Dan Worrall at the other end, before the Australian-born seamer was bowled by Dawson – his 17th wicket in September.
In the second innings, despite 18 overs still remaining, only 20 balls were bowled and a single run scored as bad light prevented Hampshire from really getting moving under lights.
“It is something very special for me, at this time and at this age!” 🗣️
Sai Sudharsan spoke about his important knock of 73, his time with Surrey and the game situation with @backandacross.
🤎 | #SurreyCricket pic.twitter.com/Ujt6oFybq0
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) September 27, 2023
