WARWICKSHIRE’S victory hopes suffered another blow on day three of their County Championship match against Surrey at The Oval.
Only 21.1 overs were possible, but title favourites Surrey still used that time profitably to score 95 more second innings runs and boost their chances of being able to force a victory.
Dodging the showers in the afternoon, in two mini-sessions, allowed Ben Foakes and Dan Lawrence to add an unbroken 57 for the third wicket as Surrey reached 276-2 – and a lead of 274 to take into the Division One game’s final day.
Foakes batted beautifully for 41 not out from 66 balls, with six fours, while Lawrence drove Ethan Bamber majestically over extra cover for six and also struck three fours in an unbeaten 36-ball 29.
Earlier, in nine overs’ play before the first rain of the day arrived at 11:09 BST, Ollie Pope went quickly from his overnight 56 to 78, from 103 balls, before being bowled off an inside edge as he gave Michael Booth’s fast-medium the charge and tried to hit him over mid off.
Pope had included a six and eight fours in an impressive knock that did much to provide Surrey with much-needed second innings impetus.
Surrey, nine points ahead of nearest challengers Nottinghamshire at the start of the match, are seeking a fourth successive County Championship title and – particularly if Notts can chase a fourth innings target of 136 to beat Worcestershire at New Road – will feel they also need to win this match.
On 181-1 overnight, after taking control of the contest on day two after Warwickshire had replied with 248 to Surrey’s own first innings 246, Rory Burns’s side saw Dom Sibley retire hurt on his overnight score of 64 due to a recurring groin injury.
Foakes and Pope added 38 runs in the day’s first 39-minute session, and Lawrence had only faced three balls following Pope’s dismissal when bad weather intervened and prevented any more play until 13:50.
Nine runs were then scored in four overs, with rain causing another seven-minute delay before a further 8.1 overs were bowled in which Foakes and Lawrence plundered 48 ahead of another downpour.
The hard-working Oval groundstaff did twice try to get play on again when the rain eased off for two separate spells, but then yet more rain swept in from the west to force an abandonment of the day’s play at 17:25.
On the final day, Surrey’s lead was approaching 380 – with Michael Booth taking four wickets in the innings – leaving the Bears aiming to play for a draw.
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