Hampshire suffer fifth highest innings defeat in 126-year Championship history at Surrey

Hampshire skipper James Vince admitted his side were ‘outplayed from the start’ after the county suffered their fifth highest innings defeat in County Championship history.
Surrey's Kemar Roach celebrates after dismissing Scott Currie at the Kia Oval on Saturday. Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images for Surrey CCC.Surrey's Kemar Roach celebrates after dismissing Scott Currie at the Kia Oval on Saturday. Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images for Surrey CCC.
Surrey's Kemar Roach celebrates after dismissing Scott Currie at the Kia Oval on Saturday. Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images for Surrey CCC.

West Indian Kemar Roach bagged a career-best 8-40 as the visitors were dismissed for 179 at the Kia Oval on Saturday.

That completed a humiliating innings and 289-run loss inside three days after Surrey had declared their mammoth first innings on 560-7 - a huge lead of 468 after Hampshire had been rolled over for 92 on the first day.

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It was Hampshire’s heaviest innings defeat for over a century and ensured that, of their six highest innings losses in their 126-year Championship history, four have come at Surrey.

Rikki Clarke  celebrates dismissing Hampshire skipper James Vince. Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images for Surrey CCC.Rikki Clarke  celebrates dismissing Hampshire skipper James Vince. Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images for Surrey CCC.
Rikki Clarke celebrates dismissing Hampshire skipper James Vince. Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images for Surrey CCC.

Roach started Hampshire’s second innings slide with a skilful 11-over new ball spell of 3-21 either side of lunch while veteran seamer Rikki Clarke chipped in with 2-31.

Roach then trapped both Liam Dawson (33) and Scott Currie (1) with wicked inswingers in a pre-tea burst before returning for a third time to send back Kyle Abbott (21) and Brad Wheal (0) in his first over back.

A magnificent haul was completed with the final Hampshire wicket, Lewis McManus - top scorer in both his side’s innings - caught behind fending off a sharply-rising ball into his ribs shortly after reaching a defiant 51.

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It was Surrey’s first Championship win of the season, after two losses and a draw, and for Hampshire a first defeat after two wins from three matches.

Hampshire entered the game on top of Group 2 but earned only one bonus point while Surrey’s maximum 24-point triumph hauls them into contention for Division 1 qualification in what looks like being a fiercely-competitive conference stage.

Clarke, 39, made Surrey’s initial breakthrough, striking with his fifth ball to have Joe Weatherley leg-before for 14 in the eighth over.

The opener is the only player in Hampshire’s top six not to have reached three figures so far, and is averaging just 14.83 from six innings.

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Hampshire were 44-4 as Roach pinned Ian Holland (18) lbw with an inswinger for 18, had Sam Northeast (0) caught at second slip for a duck from an ill-judged drive three balls later and, in his next over, going around the wicket to see left-hander Tom Alsop (6) brilliantly held low down at second slip by Clarke.

Almost immediately after lunch Vince (10) managed one four off Clarke before edging the last ball of the same over to keeper Ben Foakes to depart for 10.

Surrey, resuming on 513 for 3, batted on for 50 minutes although without Hashim Amla – the South African great retiring hurt on his overnight 215 because of a stiff neck after more than eight hours at the crease on days one and two.

Four wickets fell while 47 runs were added, with 19-year-old fast bowler Currie deservedly picking up three of them to finish with best first-class figures of 4 for 109 from 27.5 spirited overs in just his second appearance.

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Currie had Foakes (7) caught behind, trying to steer to third man, and followed up by having Jamie Smith (78) caught at mid off for 78 and catching Clarke (14) off his own bowling, from a miscued heave, to trigger Surrey’s declaration.

Jordan Clark, meanwhile, was bowled by Wheal for a duck off an inside edge.

Vince said: ‘We were outplayed from the start after losing the toss and then not playing their bowlers that well.

‘There was a bit of a hangover from the previous three games, especially our last match against Gloucestershire [which ended in a hard-fought draw].

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‘As they got further ahead in the game it was more about saving our bowlers for next week.’

Roach added: ‘It was a good toss to win and the perfect start when we bowled them out for 92, but it was a great team performance throughout.

‘To get 10 wickets in the match does make me proud of myself, and the ball was coming out of the hand extremely well today.’

Hampshire’s next game is at home to Somerset, starting at The Ageas Bowl next Thursday.

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Hampshire’s four bigger innings defeats in their Championship history are as follows …

Surrey (A), the Oval, innings and 468 runs, May 1909. Surrey 742 (E Hayes 276, J Hobbs 205), Hampshire 129 & 145 (C B Fry 60).

Lancashire (A), Old Trafford, innings and 455 runs, July 1911. Lancashire 676-7 dec, Hampshire 102 & 119.

Surrey (A), the Oval, innings and 303 runs, August 1897. Surrey 579 (W Brockwell 225), Hampshire 149 & 127.

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Warwickshire (A), Edgbaston, innings and 296 runs, June/July 1911. Warwickshire 554 (S Kinneir 268), Hampshire 132 & 126.

Hampshire’s second highest innings loss came just a few days after their fourth highest innings defeat in Championship history.

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