Surrey head to the Ageas Bowl knowing that five points will secure the Division One title.
HOW CAN I KEEP UP WITH THE GAME
A live stream will be available on the Surrey Match Centre, via Hampshire’s YouTube channel. Surrey’s social media channels will post regular updates and clips, with highlights and a report published at the end of each day of the match.
SURREY SQUAD
Surrey have named a 15-player squad for the visit to Hampshire.
Will Jacks and Jamie Smith will be available after the completion of England’s ODI with Ireland. England players involved in the Ireland series may play in the last round of the County Championship if they are released by England to do so, assuming that they can participate in at least two full days of the Championship match.
LAST TIME OUT
Surrey drew with Northamptonshire in a rain-affected match at The Kia Oval last week. Rory Burns’ haircut changed his fortunes at the toss and he elected to bowl first. He was rewarded when Northamptonshire were reduced to 193/7. However, India international Karun Nair smashed a sensational 150 as Northamptonshire reached a total of 357. The ever-improving Tom Lawes finished with figures of 5/105.
Surrey faltered with the bat, with Hampshire taking regular wickets at the top of the order. Ben Foakes and Jamie Overton came together at 79/6 and took the side to 163 with Jamie Overton scoring 51 before he was dismissed early on day four. Northamptonshire bowled Surrey out for 185. The visitors needed victory to help their survival push and thus forced Surrey to follow on.
Rory Burns (71 not out) and Dom Sibley (67 not out) batted out the rest of the final day to earn a draw with Surrey, with both players looking impenetrable.
Surrey took eight points from the match, with results in other places going their way, they stretched their lead at the top of the table to 20 points. Despite their good performance, Northamptonshire were confirmed as relegated from Division One.
HAMPSHIRE
Hampshire sit third in Division One on 176 points – six clear of fourth-placed Warwickshire. They have won seven games – one less than Surrey but have lost four matches.
Captain James Vince has scored 937 runs at an average of 49.31, with Nick Gubbins scoring 931 runs at an average of 49.00. All-rounder Liam Dawson has impressed with bat and ball, scoring 793 runs at an average of 41.73, whilst taking 40 wickets with his left arm spin.
Mohammad Abbas has taken 48 wickets at an average of 20.97, with Kyle Abbott taking 43 wickets at an average of 20.95.
LAST TIME OUT VS HAMPSHIRE
Ollie Pope produced one of the great Surrey batting performances as Surrey beat Hampshire by nine wickets in April.
Tom Lawes took four wickets as Hampshire were dismissed for 245. Hants’ wicketkeeper batter Ben Brown scored a gutsy 95 to take his side close a batting point.
Surrey responded with 270 thanks to a battling 91 by Ollie Pope against a strong Hampshire attack under overcast overhead conditions. Hampshire’s Pakistani seamer Muhammad Abbas took impressive figures of 6/64.
Nick Gubbins scored 84 as Hampshire were bowled out for 258, with Dan Worrall taking 5/40.
Surrey were set a target of 243 in a little over two session. Rory Burns (35) and Dom Sibley (79 not out) got Surrey off to a solid start before captain Burns fell with the score on 54. Ollie Pope joined Dom Sibley at the crease with a big total to chase. Sibley played with control that complimented Pope’s aggressive style, with the latter scoring an incredible 122 not out from 102 balls as Surrey chased the remaining 200 runs. In true Ollie Pope style, he smashed the final two balls for six to give Surrey their first victory of the 2023 season.
Watch the best bits from Ollie Pope’s second innings knock here.
