Unbeaten Surrey hand out message to title rivals

Surrey 368 (Burns 151, Foakes 90, Edwards 5-93) beat Hampshire 135 (Clarke 5-29) and 175 (Weatherley 50, Morkel 3-37, Virdi 3-23)
Scorecard

Surrey's relentless bowling attack ripped through Hampshire to set up an innings win at the Ageas Bowl and continue the London-based side's unbeaten start to their Specsavers County Championship campaign.

Amar Virdi and Morne Morkel both grabbed three wickets, with Rikki Clarke following his five-for in the first innings with two more scalps - as they won with Hampshire still 58 in arrears.

It was the first time Hampshire had suffered an innings defeat at the Ageas Bowl since Surrey inflicted a similarly hefty victory on the ground two years ago.

Light had been adjudged too bad to start the innings having been bowled out for 135 late on day two, and the opening seven overs were negotiated without too much trouble from Joe Weatherley and Jimmy Adams. But in the eighth over Adams was pinned by left-arm quick Sam Curran in front of off stump.

James Vince unfurled six boundaries in a typically stylish innings - with two drives, one off the front foot, the other off the back, particularly pleasing to the eye.

But he was undone by his impatience as he trotted down the wicket and attempted to whisk through the off side against Virdi, only to get beaten by the flight.

Ben Foakes completed the stumping with a brilliant one-handed take and quick hands to break the stumps.

Sean Ervine also fell to Virdi's off-spin as he edged to Rikki Clarke at first slip, due in part to a lack of footwork.

As the top order fell, Weatherley patiently waited for his chances to attack. The former England under 19 captain saw off the new ball and built the basis for an impressive and long, knock.

He reached his second Championship half century of the season, from 121 deliveries, having perfected the late cut after lunch. But he was run out without scoring another run.

Partner Rilee Rossouw drilled a drive at Morkel at extra cover, which was misfielded, the South African called through a third run which saw Weatherley short of his ground after a relay between Morkel, Jade Dernbach at the bowler's end and Foakes.

Rossouw attempted to make up for the misfortune with a punchy innings of his own, while wickets fell at the other end.

Morkel used all the skills gained over his 86 Test career to produce late away movement to clip the top of Lewis McManus' off peg.

Likewise, Rikki Clarke used his long and great, first-class career to swing the ball back from leg stump at Gareth Berg and have him lbw, before moving it the other way to dismiss Brad Taylor leg before.

Kyle Abbott shouldered arms at a Virdi sharp turner before Dale Steyn prodded Morkel to Ollie Pope at gully - who splendidly caught to his right. Fidel Edwards completed the collapse fending Morkel to short leg, with Hampshire bowled out for 175.

Surrey make it three wins and two draws this season and claimed 23 points from the match to Hampshire's three.