HAMPSHIRE amassed the fifth-highest total in the county’s history after George Bailey's second century in three Specsavers County Championship matches.

As well as helping to secure maximum batting points, Bailey's 161 meant Hampshire had three centurions in a Championship innings for only the tenth time - and for the second time in as many visits to the Oval after Tom Alsop, Sean Ervine and Ryan McLaren achieved the feat in the corresponding match of last season. 

Hampshire made 582-9d here last September but put that total firmly in the shade as they amassed their highest total for eight years.

They resumed on 361-4 and didn’t lose a wicket in the morning.

Their dominance was exemplified when the pugnacious Ervine took four fours off a single Sam Curran over, when the bowler’s line strayed to leg.

At lunch Hampshire were 497-4, having added 136 in the opening session.  

By the time Surrey took their first wicket of the day Bailey and Ervine had added 167 – the score was 528 when Ervine inside-edged a delivery from Conor McKerr onto his stumps.  There had been eight fours and a six in his 123-ball 83.

Bailey had added exactly 100 to his overnight 61 when he was sixth out at 600, caught at long-on as he attempted to wipe yet more pre-declaration runs.

By now, though, everyone was engrossed by the innings from Ian Holland, who at almost 27 is playing in only his fifth first-class match.

Holland, who was born in Wisconsin and has been an outstanding club player in Australia, progressed to his maiden first-class fifty and his jaunty 58 not out from 76 balls included three fours.

Hampshire finally declared with the fall of their seventh wicket, Berg, who swatted his way to 35 from 16 balls before he was out having another big heave in the final over before tea.

Surrey’s bowling was at times ordinary over the game’s first five sessions.

But this has been a most unhelpful pitch and without their captain – Gareth Batty is injured, along with star batsman Kumar Sangakkara – the attack has lacked experience.   

It has featured three teenagers in Sam Curran, McKerr and Amar Virdi, while Tom Curran is still only 22.  

Mark Footitt, at 31, is hardly callow but when the ball doesn’t swing, and it didn’t here, he is a diminished force.  

All of them stuck to their difficult task and only Dominic Sibley, their seventh bowler, could be described as expensive.

 Surrey’s batsmen showed some character in reply with Rory Burns, caught at slip off Ervine the only wicket to fall.

HAMPSHIRE first innings
JHK Adams b Virdi 144     
LD McManus† b SM Curran 13     
RR Rossouw c Borthwick b TK Curran 28     
JM Vince c †Foakes b TK Curran 104 
GJ Bailey* c Footitt b Borthwick 161     
SM Ervine b McKerr 83     
IG Holland not out 58 
GK Berg c TK Curran b Sibley 35     
Extras (b 4, lb 5, w 5, nb 8) 22 
TOTAL 648-7dec (161.4 overs)      

       Did not bat: KJ Abbott, MS Crane, FH Edwards
       Fall of wickets: 1-24 (McManus, 9.5 ov), 2-71 (Rossouw, 25.3 ov), 3-232 (Vince, 59.6 ov), 4-361 (Adams, 95.1 ov), 5-528 (Ervine, 139.6 ov), 6-600 (Bailey, 156.3 ov), 7-648 (Berg, 161.4 ov).
      Bowling: TK Curran 25-5-85-2, SM Curran 26-6- 82- 1, MHA Footitt 24-5-89- 0, C McKerr 25- 1- 102-1, A Virdi 32-3-135-1, SG Borthwick 23-0- 96- 1, DP Sibley 6.4- 0- 50- 1.