Alsop Puts Hampshire On Top With Maiden Century

Tom Alsop (117*) scored his maiden first-class hundred to lead Hampshire to 213-3 on day two against Surrey in the Specsavers County Championship at the Kia Oval.

Alsop, 20, scored a gritty century off 169 balls and forged crucial eighty-plus partnerships with Will Smith (49) and Sean Ervine (30*) after Brad Wheal (4-100) helped end the home side's innings on 329 in the morning session.

Hampshire trail by just 116 runs, with Alsop and Ervine so far putting on 88 runs for the fourth wicket and asserting the visitors as the commanding force going into day three at Kennington.

Honours had been even on the opening day, as the visitors claimed six wickets and two bowling points, matched by the home side surpassing 250 runs to secure two batting points. However, the familiar sight of overcast skies over the Kia Oval cleared on day two, as the complexion of the game changed in Hampshire’s favour.

Hants’ first wicket came just six overs after the restart, as Ryan McLaren denied Ben Foakes (48) of his fifty, bowling Surrey’s wicket-keeper batsman to reduce the home side to 266-7.

Brad Wheal dismissed Tom Curran (17) and Stuart Meaker (8) either side of Surrey securing their third batting point and finished with figures of 4-100 when Liam Dawson completed the job with his second scalp.

Dawson deceived Mark Footitt (0) and McLaren caught Surrey’s tail-ender to restrict the home side to 329 all out, preventing skipper Gareth Batty (41*) from securing a fourth point for his team.

Hampshire scored 12 runs off four overs before lunch and Will Smith hit eight off the first after the break, but a positive start for the openers was ended by the older Curran, Tom, whose straight delivery tickled the bat of Jimmy Adams and carried to Foakes.

Alsop acted as a catalyst for Hampshire, who moved beyond 100 without further loss during a progressive afternoon session, and the 20-year-old passed fifty for the fourth time this season off just 58 balls.

An 83-run stand with Smith, to which Alsop contributed 55, put Hampshire in a commanding position going into the evening session, despite effective bowling from Gareth Batty. Surrey’s captain bowled three maidens and went for just five runs from his six overs before tea.

Ervine picked up the reigns, after Vince edged behind for four, and helped cool the nerves of Alsop as the 20-year-old approached his maiden first-class ton. Throughout the afternoon, Alsop seemed to benefit from experienced colleagues, who held strike and allowed him to score.

Alsop reached his century off 169 balls, with 17 boundaries, using his low-to-the-ground style to drive the ball through the covers and pick up two runs during the 64th over, fist-pumping as he made his way back down the track to the striker's end and then calmy removing his helmet to warm applause at the Kia Oval.

This was a truly memorable moment for Alsop, hard-earned, finely-crafted and somewhat overdue given the performances the youngster has produced so consistently across all three formats of the modern game for Hampshire.

The visitors will enter day three on top, having scored 213 runs and secured their first batting point for just three wickets, with an effective Ervine-Alsop partnership still flourishing against Surrey, who lead by just 116 after day two.