Honours even at Hampshire

Both sides still searching for first win after thrilling climax to final day

Last updated: 17th May 2008

James Ormond Surrey celebrating a wicket with Jon Batty

Ormond: Crucial runs and wickets for Surrey

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LV County Championship - Division One
The Rose Bowl - Day Four
Surrey 278 (C T Tremlett 5-67) & 229-8 dec (M J Nicholson 73, J Ormond 64 no, S M Ervine 4-42) v Hampshire 227 (M J Brown 66, M J Lumb 60) & 247-8 (M J Brown 94, S M Ervine 51, Saqlain Mushtaq 5-74)
Hampshire (8pts) drew with Surrey (9pts)

Hampshire and Surrey both claim close to forcing a victory on the final day at The Rose Bowl before the two sides settled for a draw.

Heading into the final hour of the Division One contest it was tough to know what the outcome would be, with the hosts attempting to chase down a target of 281 in 75 overs.

Visiting skipper Mark Butcher had decided to tempt his opponents by declaring Surrey's second innings on 229-8.

Tailenders Matt Nicholson (73) and James Ormond, who made a career-best 64 not out, had frustrated the Hampshire attack in the morning session as they extended their stand to 140.

Hampshire's run chase suffered a bad start when Michael Carberry was dismissed by Pedro Collins but Michael Brown stood firm to score what looked to be a match-winning 94.

The opener shared a 96-run second-wicket stand with Jimmy Adams and batted on through until after tea until he fell to Saqlain Mushtaq, who finished with impressive figures of 5-74.

However it was veteran seamer Ormond who did the damage late on, firstly dismissing Sean Ervine when he was well set on 51 and then trapping Greg Lamb lbw, Hampshire deciding at eight down to settle for a draw.

Day Three

Surrey managed to stage a recovery before bad light stopped play after Sean Ervine destroyed the visitors' middle order on day three at the Rose Bowl.

Ervine dismissed Mark Butcher, Ally Brown and Usman Afzaal in only 17 balls for one run as Surrey collapsed to 75 for seven during their second innings

It was left to tailenders Matt Nicholson and Jimmy Ormond to steady the ship putting on an an unbroken stand of 76 before play was brought to a close shortly after tea.

Surrey, who had finished off Hampshire for 227 in the first hour of a cloudy morning, ended the day with an overall lead of 202, setting up the prospect of a close finish tomorrow should forecast bad weather fail to materialise.

Day Two

Michael Brown and Michael Lumb both hit fifties for Hampshire but they still look to be heading to a first innings deficit against Surrey.

Brown hit 66 and Lumb 60 to help the hosts recover from 13-2 to 146-3 but both men were removed quickly by Chris Jordan and that started the collapse.

Hampshire lost five wickets for just 28 runs as they ended the day on 204-7 with bad light wiping out 26 overs of scheduled play.

Greg Lamb was hanging on in there as he battled his way to 24 but he will have to fight hard to help Hampshire surpass Surrey's first innings score of 278.

Day One

Mark Ramprakash failed in his first attempt to become the 25th man to make 100 first-class centuries as Surrey struggled on day one against Hampshire.

The 38-year-old managed to make just 17 before edging in-form left-arm seamer James Tomlinson behind to wicketkeeper Tom Burrows.

Ramprakash, who hit his 99th ton in the recent draw with Sussex, was not the only batsman to fail after the visitors had chosen to bat first at The Rose Bowl.

Mark Butcher top scored with 49 out of a total of 278, the Surrey skipper putting on 77 for the fourth wicket with Usman Afzaal (30).

Matt Nicholson was left high and dry on 40 not out as Chris Tremlett helped Hampshire take maximum bowling points by picking up 5-67.

However the hosts suffered a blow just before the close when they lost England Lions opener Michael Carberry for just two. They finished on 13-1.