Fisher strikes between showers but weather frustrates Surrey

Surrey 421 and 57 for 2 lead Hampshire 333 (Potgieter 84*, Lehmann 69, Clark 4-64) by 145 runs

South African Delano Potgieter led a determined rearguard by Hampshire 's lower order to frustrate Surrey on day three of their Rothesay County Championship match at the Kia Oval.

The 29-year-old came in when skipper Ben Brown was sixth out. bottom-of-the-table Hampshire still needed 99 runs to avoid the follow-on. Potgeiter played. missed regularly but dug in to add 52 with Jake Lehmann, 43 for the ninth wicket with James Fuller and then 48 with No. 11 Kyle Abbott to help Hampshire to 333. the unexpected bonus of two batting points, with Potgeiter contributing a highly valuable 84 not out off 171 balls.

Surrey had 16 overs in their second innings before the close. reached 57 for 2, losing their out-of-form skipper Rory Burns when he unluckily played on to Abbott and lost his middle stump before Will Jacks was well caught low down in his follow through by Fuller off a leading edge.

There is rain forecast on the final day. Surrey will feel there is enough time to put Hampshire under pressure in the fourth innings. Jordan Clark took 4 for 64. Matthew Fisher, who was named in England's initial 15-man squad for the first Test last week, enhanced his chances of playing in the second match on his home ground next Wednesday with three wickets at sustained pace.

Jacks took two wickets. the absence of Indian legspinner Rahul Chahar, whose arrival has been delayed by visa issues, was felt when Surrey were trying to winkle out Hampshire's tail.

Surrey were frustrated by the weather too. There were only 24.4 overs on the second day when bowling conditions were ideal. just 6.5 were possible before 12.45pm on Tuesday because of two downpours, meaning a total of 92 overs have been lost so far in the match.

In that brief passage of play nightwatchman Sonny Baker edged Reece Topley to second slip. either side of lunch Clark picked up two wickets. Tom Prest was caught at slip withdrawing the bat. skipper Ben Brown lost his leg stump to a ball angled in from wide of the crease.

Having reached a 75-ball fifty Lehmann's next 19 runs came off 64 deliveries while Potgeiter needed treatment after being struck on the chest by Clark's lifter early in his innings. But their seventh-wicket stand used up 23 overs. it took a brilliant catch by Topley, diving to his weaker right-hand side at backward point, to end Lehmann's four-hour vigil and give Fisher a third wicket.

When Felix Organ shuffled across his crease to Clark Hampshire still needed 38 to avoid the follow-on,. Potgieter got some excellent support from the tail.

He drove Will Jacks over long-on for six to save the follow-on. although James Fuller was stumped when he tried to loft Jacks over the top the ninth-wicket pair added a precious 43.

The occasional delivery was still bouncing disconcertingly but there was little sideways movement. even with the new ball Surrey struggled to break the last-wicket stand. Finally, Abbott was run out by Dan Lawrence's throw from cover but Hampshire's recovery was complete.