Ervine leads Hampshire on revenge mission

Surrey 329 and 23 for 0 trail Hampshire 582 for 9 dec (Ervine 158*, McLaren 100, Footitt 6-161) by 230 runs
Scorecard

It does not take a particularly long memory to recall July 18. But Hampshire certainly can. On July 18, Surrey batted Hampshire into submission. Six-hundred-and-thirty-seven first-innings runs worth of submission. Ben Foakes, who scored a ton, admitted that Surrey's captain Gareth Batty, who also scored a ton, carried on batting for a couple of overs after tea on day two "just to piss them off".

Here was Hampshire's retribution. They had built a fine base on the second day, but lost Tom Alsop and Liam Dawson, both to Mark Footitt, within the third morning's first 30 minutes. First-innings parity did not look beyond Surrey.

At the other end stood Sean Ervine, who just batted. He batted his way to his third century in three matches. He batted through Hampshire's highest sixth-wicket partnership against Surrey - 186 with Ryan McLaren, who also scored a century, his first in the Championship (this was the first time three Hampshire batsmen had reached three figures in an innings in 24 years). Then there was 65 with Lewis McManus, the impish keeper-batsman who held up Surrey at the Ageas, and 48 then 44 with the tattooed Gareths, the belligerent Berg and brutal Andrew.

The declaration had felt like it might never come. Berg smote Batty for 22 in four balls to take Hampshire past 500, which felt like a convenient juncture. But no. Leading by 200; not enough. Then Berg went, caught by Batty at mid-on, to become Footitt's sixth wicket, and the Surrey players set off with him, seemingly expecting James Vince to wave his arm. Not yet. Ervine brought up 1000 runs in a first-class season for the first time, then his 150, Hampshire's 550, and also their highest score at The Oval, 559. When Andrew's romp ended, Ervine appeared to start wandering in, only to see Brad Wheal bound out. Wheal had bounced out Stuart Meaker on the second morning, and he won again: a pulled six and a top-edged four finally bringing the mercy blow, 253 ahead.

Ervine said that Hampshire actually declared an over earlier than planned, giving them nine overs of bowling, which Surrey survived unscathed, before stumps. But how Hampshire had enjoyed their jaunt; nine of the 11 players here were the victims at the Ageas, a game they came within minutes of saving after batting two days in sweltering heat. "It was nice," said Ervine of getting some payback. "It was a pity we couldn't get to the third new ball, that would have been fun."

Ervine's was a magnificently measured innings. He had 37 when joined by McLaren, with the second new ball three overs away. McLaren's dashing array of cuts, pulls and drives meant he soon caught Ervine (when they both had 59) and, as Hampshire's lead grew to 100, they were going tit for tat, their scores never more than eight runs apart all the way through to their centuries in quick succession. Both were cautious when necessary - Tom Curran bowled particularly well, even if Footitt claimed the rewards - but cashed in as Surrey's attack flagged. McLaren, one of the shrewdest overseas signings about - he balances Hampshire's side just as Tim Bresnan does Yorkshire's - found mid-off a ball after a beautiful straight drive took him to a raucously celebrated ton.

After a stylish, steadying showing from McManus, the baton was picked up by Berg and Andrew and their focus on flaying was singular - "that was great to watch from the other end," Ervine laughed. Ervine, hellbent on being there to the finish, credited his best year with the bat for Hampshire to a beery chat with his compatriot Murray Goodwin during pre-season. He is playing the ball later and, while there are moments of brutality, such as when Batty was thumped into the OCS Stand, he is leaving more too. He is 33, and it feels like he has been around longer, but there is life in the old dog yet. "It's a huge thing for me," he said of reaching 1000 runs. "I've come close a few times, so I'm over the moon, especially having missed a few games through injuries."

A draw would confirm Surrey's own survival, and Rory Burns and Dom Sibley batted well to reach stumps, but Hampshire were encouraged by the bite and turn found by the single over from Liam Dawson, England spinner elect. Remarkably, victory would take Hampshire to fifth with just a home game against fellow strugglers Durham to come. Never has the gap between the divisions been wider, seldom has more been at stake.

A second Great Escape, according to Ervine, after the illness of Michael Carberry, the injuries of all and sundry, and the departure of Dale Benkenstein, would "top any season I've ever been involved with Hampshire. Given all that's gone on, staying up would feel like winning the Championship."

Ten Surrey wickets, it seems, would mean far more than just revenge.