Hampshire's bowlers toiled in the September sun as Frizzell Champions elect Surrey amassed 422 runs, with Ian Ward striking his third successive first-class century and Graham Thorpe keeping faith with the England selectors with a superb 143. The expected morning declaration will mean Hampshire needing 514 to win, or more appropriately to hold out for a draw.

Young Scott Newman failed for the second time in the match when he was trapped in front by James Schofield. Nadim Shahid playing the junior roll to skipper Ian Ward, was also out cheap edging a ball well wide outside the off stump from Mascarenhas to the wicket-keeper.

This however put together Ward and Graham Thorpe looking for a good "net" before he flies out to the Ashes tour. This was done in some style, with the pair driving, glancing and cutting the Hampshire bowlers to shreds.

Ward who had already helped himself to a century on the first day, smote 156, before he came down the wicket to the occasional bowling of Jimmy Adams and was stumped by Pothas. His innings lasted just over five hours, and in that time shared a 197 run partnership with Thorpe.

Thorpe was playing like he had never been missing, his innings of just over four hours had all the trade mark shots we know of old. He was finally out when he drove at the workhorse James Tomlinson and was caught at mid-on.

The remaining batsmen spent the rest of the evening having fun at the expense of the bowlers, and some pundits expressed surprise that a declaration wasn't forthcoming in the evening. Batty, Bicknell and Salisbury all perished playing expansive shots as the visitors brought up their second 400 tally of the match.

Neil Johnson was unable to bowl, so much of the work was done by the young attack of Schofield and Tomlinson, and both came out of the day with credit.

© Hampshire Cricket