By David Green at Southampton
First day of four: Surrey 434-5 v Hampshire
SURREY, having won the toss, built a strong position on a typically true Southampton pitch, Mark Butcher making 106, Alistair Brown 111 not out and substantial contributions also coming from Alec Stewart and Jonathan Batty.
There was a tinge of green in the wicket early on and West Indian quick bowler Nixon McLean, despite occasional directional problems, bothered Stewart and Butcher, neither of whom was at his best.
Stewart escaped a caught-and-bowled on 40, while Butcher was missed on 19 and twice on 25, all sharp chances. Stewart, though he played many attractive strokes, was unable to capitalise but Butcher did, his second fifty looking considerably more convincing than his first.
Butcher batted for 282 minutes and hit 19 fours before the persevering McLean found a thin edge. Graham Thorpe and the two Hollioakes all got out after looking in good fettle and Surrey's innings was losing some of its momentum when Brown took charge.
McLean caused the mini-collapse with a burst of three for 12 from 24 balls either side of tea but despite this Brown's fifty came at a run a ball and included two sixes and two fours.
Brown, capably supported by wicketkeeper Batty, dominated a 22-over century partnership for the sixth wicket. His second century of the season came off 96 balls and included 15 fours in addition to his two sixes.
Day 2: Hampshire are made to suffer
By David Green at Southampton
Second day of four: Hants (189 & 9-2) trail Surrey (591) by 393 runs
SURREY again dominated play at Southampton, adding 157 to their overnight 434 for five before being bowled out shortly after lunch, then making Hampshire, who were without John Stephenson owing to a viral infection, follow on 402 adrift.
In the morning Hampshire's bowlers again toiled, Jon Batty completing a career-best 63 before falling lbw aiming to leg, but Alistair Brown continued to play in punishing style, reaching 155 off 147 balls before becoming Nixon McLean's fourth victim.
Ian Salisbury was soon caught behind but Hampshire's sufferings were extended by Martin Bicknell and Alex Tudor, who played some sketchy strokes but many authentic ones in a ninth-wicket stand of 91.
Hampshire made a poor start when Jason Laney was lbw to Tudor who, despite occasional errors in direction, was fast and hostile.
Kevan James joined Giles White and for a time the pair looked comfortable. However, that changed with the introduction of Saqlain Mushtaq's off-spin and the leg-breaks of Ian Salisbury, the former hitting White's off stump with his floater and the latter bowling James with a flipper.
Matthew Keech was bowled off stump by Saqlain as he aimed to leg. Robin Smith and Dimitri Mascarenhad added 52 before Salisbury had Smith caught behind, then Tudor mopped up the tail, leaving Mascarenhas unbeaten on 60.
Where Mascarenhas played with simplicity, defending when necessary but hitting the occasional loose ball hard, his colleagues looked careworn, though Adrian Aymes was unlucky when his leg hit lodged in the armpit of short leg Adam Hollioake.
Day 3: Surrey are way on top of situation
By David Green at Southampton
Surrey (591) bt Hampshire (189 & 218) by an innings & 184 runs
SURREY, in command of this match from the first ball, completed a crushing victory over Hampshire five balls after tea yesterday to earn themselves a day off, maximum points and top spot in the championship table.
Hampshire were nine for two overnight, having lost both openers late on Thursday evening, and still needed 393 runs to make Surrey bat again. This was an unlikely prospect rendered more so by the absence of John Stephenson, owing to a virus.
However, they fought doggedly through the first two sessions, Robin Smith making a crisp 42 and dead-bat defiance coming from Matthew Keech and Adrian Aymes. These efforts, though, served only to delay the inevitable.
Surrey, admittedly facing one of the weaker counties, looked well-armed at all points on this showing. Their batting may be depleted by Test calls but their reserves are of high quality and they are certainly strong title contenders.
Nightwatchman Peter Hartley departed in the day's third over, mis-hooking Alex Tudor to long leg, but it was already clear that bowling would be hard work on a pitch much slower than on the first day.
Kevan James, 49 minutes over a single, was leg before to the persevering Martin Bicknell. After this, Smith and Keech added 40 comfortably enough until Smith, aiming to cut Ian Salisbury, top-edged to Ben Hollioake at short third man.
Smith had hit nine fours off 75 balls but Keech was almost entirely passive. Dimitri Mascarenhas could not repeat his first-innings heroics and, playing back defensively to the impressive Tudor, edged low to Graham Thorpe at first slip.
Not long afterwards Keech nicked Bicknell to second slip having faced 106 balls in making 31. The end seemed imminent but it was delayed by a determined stand of 62 in 19 overs between Aymes and Shaun Udal.