Loss of late wickets spoils good day for Hampshire

After playing themselves into a promising position, Hampshire allowed Surrey a less-than-deserved first innings lead of 91, as the home side lost their last four wickets for 13 runs at the close of the second day's play at the Rose Bowl.

Hampshire started the day well, seeing Ali Brown trapped leg before to Dimitri Mascarenhas when only three runs had been added to the overnight total. James Ormond did not last long for his four but some stubbornness from Pakistani Saqlain Mushtaq and Tim Murtagh, the nephew of former Hampshire seamer Andy, pushed the Brown Caps past the 400 mark with a tenth wicket stand of 57.

Saqlain hit 55 before James Tomlinson got one through his defences.

Neil Johnson and Jason Laney have got into a format of giving Hampshire solid starts and this was no exception. But they have also got into a habit of being dismissed together in quick succession and that was also no different either - this time separated by just a single.

Laney hit 48 in just 61 balls, while Johnson's 32 came from only 57.

However, the returning John Crawley, who Hampshire have missed desperately in this relegation season showed why he has been selected for the England Ashes tour with a scintillating 82 as the home side attacked.

He found an ally in Will Kendall (38), with whom he added a century stand and later John Francis, who cracked a punishing 59 in only 50 deliveries - such was the tempo of the Hampshire reply, they allowed Surrey just seven maidens in the 76 overs bowled.

When Francis was dismissed attempting to hook Ormond (4-87), it signalled the end of the Hampshire innings as Mascarenhas lofted Salisbury to the substitute fielder Giddins and Schofield went first ball.

Tomlinson hung around with Udal, but to lose the last four wickets quickly was a pity as Hampshire fed themselves into a position from where they could have got close to Surrey's 418 all out.

Still two days remain though, so it will be interesting to see how this game develops. It could certainly go either way.