HAMPSHIRE
Captain: James Vince
Head Coach: Adi Birrell
2023 finish: Third (Division One)
2023 highest run scorer: James Vince (1,007)
2023 highest wicket-taker: Mohammad Abbas (53)
Batter Ali Orr moved down the coast from Sussex over the winter as Hampshire look to push on from three third-placed finishes in a row. Hampshire won eight games last year – the same as Surrey but will look to find consistency in order to win their first Championship in over 50 years.
Hampshire have drawn two of their three games – at home to Lancashire and away at Warwickshire. Their opening game at Durham was abandoned without a ball being bowled.
LAST TIME OUT VS HAMPSHIRE AT THE KIA OVAL
Surrey beat Hampshire in a four-day thriller in April 2023, as Ollie Pope’s unbeaten century late on the final day secured a famous win for Rory Burns’ side.
Tom Lawes took four wickets as Surrey dismissed Hampshire for 254. Ben Brown scored a batting 95 as Surrey’s seamers wreaked havoc.
In response, Ollie Pope scored 91 and new recruit Sean Abbott showed his batting capabilities that would shine throughout 2023 as Surrey posted a narrow lead with 270.
Nick Gubbins scored 84 as Hampshire posted 258. Dan Worrall continued his fine form from 2022 with 5/40.
Surrey required 243 runs to win in a session and a half – an uphill task for most. Ollie Pope scored one of Surrey’s great centuries, as his 122 not out took Surrey to a nine wicket victory late on Day Four. Despite the winning margin, the game was incredibly close for three and a half days, with the result setting Surrey up to attack their County Championship crown.
