County Championship: Ollie Pope and Dan Lawrence hit tons for Surrey at Sussex

Dan Lawrence and Ollie Pope each made attacking lots of earlier than dangerous gentle halted Surrey’s fast progress on day three towards Sussex at Hove.

When the gamers got here off ten minutes after tea Surrey had been 390-3, solely 45 runs behind with Lawrence unbeaten on 117 after Pope had made his first Championship century for 2 years.

The lack of 36 overs could possibly be essential to Surrey’s hopes of constructing it an ungainly ultimate day for Sussex by going previous their first innings’ 435.

After Pope scored 103, Lawrence made probably the most of a reprieve on 35, when he was badly dropped by sub fielder George Thomas. He hit six sixes in his first hundred of the season, off 92 balls, together with two in an over when Ollie Robinson opted to bowl quick to a packed leg facet area.

Sussex ought to nonetheless have the ability to save the sport on a floor which has supplied little help for seam or spin, however after drawing and successful their first two video games since promotion this was a reminder that Division One cricket represents an enormous step up.

Curiously, it was Pope’s first County Championship century away from The Oval since his maiden effort at Southampton eight years in the past. The 27-year-old had a lean time within the competitors between England matches final season when his prime rating in ten innings was 63. However he made 65 towards Hampshire final week and carried on right here in perfect batting circumstances.

He ruthlessly punished any indiscretions in size and scored on either side of the wicket. There have been 11 boundaries and he additionally lofted James Coles’ left-arm spin over mid-wicket – though Jayden Seales operating across the boundary almost took what would have been a shocking catch.

Pope’s twenty second first-class century was his first within the Championship for greater than two years, however frustratingly he was dismissed two balls after getting there when he gloved a brief ball from the persevering Seales, who was the choose of Sussex’s assault.

Through the morning session Pope and Dom Sibley took their second-wicket stand to 179 in 42 overs. Sibley was cruising in the direction of his third successive hundred when he chipped up a tame return catch to sluggish left-armer James Coles, having earlier hit him over long-off for six and ten boundaries. Each batters could have departed feeling they’d left runs on the market.

Lawrence was quickly into his stride, though Thomas could have nightmares in regards to the simple catch he dropped at backward sq. leg off a disconsolate Robinson. The 27-year-old actually made probably the most of his reprieve. 5 of his sixes had been hit into the leg facet however the different, a luxurious straight drive off Coles, was in all probability the most effective of them.

On the different finish Ben Foakes was blissful to play a supporting function, though he did swing Coles over the boundary on one knee.

Lawrence reached his 18th first-class hundred with a considerably streaky thick edge over the slips off Robinson for his eighth boundary as Surrey scored 162 between lunch and tea in 29 overs.

However simply two extra had been attainable within the night session and with Danny Lamb out of the assault after injuring his shoulder on Saturday, Sussex had been in all probability glad of the chance to regroup and are available again tomorrow with a brand new ball solely six overs previous.

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