Hampshire v Surrey LVCC Day 4 2nd September

POTHAS DEFIANT IN HAMPSHIRE DEFEAT

Hampshire's title hopes suffered a setback when they lost to Surrey by an innings and 37 runs in the Liverpool/Victoria County Championship match at The Rose Bowl on Sunday.

Stand-in skipper Nic Pothas top-scored with a defiant 92 as Hampshire, batting with dogged determination, battled to salvage a draw. They took the match into the final session after following on 335 runs behind.

Pothas and 21-year-old David Griffiths, who made an unbeaten 31, added 99 for the ninth wicket before Hampshire were finally dismissed for 298 in their second innings.

Hampshire had started the final day on 121-3, but lost first-innings centurion Jimmy Adams for 31 without addition.

Surrey spinners Harbhajan Singh (4-71) and Chris Schofield (3-87) then did the damage as Hampshire slipped to 198-8 soon after lunch.

More than two hours later Australian paceman Matt Nicholson broke the rearguard action by trapping Pothas lbw. Schofield finished things off.

Hampshire had faced an uphill task after Surrey totalled a massive 556. Mark Ramprakash hit 188 and shared a third-wicket stand of 225 with Mark Butcher who made 100.

Shaun Udal took 3-106 and Daren Powell 3-117.

Left-hander Adams then compiled 110, his first century of the season included 16 fours, as Hampshire replied with 221. Pothas was the next highest scorer with 39.

SURREY 556 (Ramprakash 188, Butcher 100, Udal 3-106, Powell 3-117; HAMPSHIRE 221 (Adams 110, Pothas 39, Schofield 5-52, Harbhajan 2-51) and 298 (Pothas 92, Carberry 40, Harbhajan 4-71, Schofield 3-87.

SURREY won by an innings and 37 runs.

HAMPSHIRE 3 points, SURREY 22.

* Hampshire's next County Championship match is against Worcestershire at Kidderminster, starting on Tuesday (10.30am).