County Championship: Hampshire's Lewis McManus frustrates Surrey with first ton

Lewis McManus had scored only five runs in three previous Championship innings this season

Lewis McManus hit a maiden Championship hundred as Hampshire held up Surrey's push for victory at the Ageas Bowl.

Hampshire, who resumed 564 runs behind on 73-2, still trail by 239 after ending day three on 398-9.

Wicketkeeper McManus (117 not out) reached his century off 171 balls and has so far put on 71 in 27.4 overs with last man Brad Wheal.

Adam Wheater (59) and Sean Ervine (52) hit fifties for bottom club Hampshire, while Surrey's Mark Footitt took 3-62.

Eighth-placed Surrey were unable to call upon Zafar Ansari in the field because of a back injury.

The visitors posted a mammoth 637-7 declared in their first innings and were boosted by two early breakthroughs as they set about bowling out fellow strugglers Hampshire.

Dominic Sibley trapped Ryan McLaren (31) lbw with the first ball of day three, before Tom Alsop (32) was caught at first slip by Jason Roy off the same bowler two overs later.

Sizeable partnerships for the fifth and eighth wickets stunted their progress, but they looked well-placed to enforce the follow-on just after tea.

However, Wheal accompanied 21-year-old McManus to three figures and spent 100 minutes at the crease for his nine not out off 67 balls.

Hampshire wicketkeeper Lewis McManus told BBC Radio Solent:

"It's a magnificent feeling to reach a century. You never really know if it will come or not, but it's one of the best feelings on a cricket field.

"I've had a bit of a run in the side this season and it's always nice to repay the faith the coaches have shown in me.

"There was a lot of time to get yourself in out there and being so far behind on the scoreboard kind of frees you up.

"It feels like a nice wicket when you're in and it's pretty simple what we've got to achieve as a team on the last day and that's bat all day."

Surrey head coach Michael Di Venuto told BBC Radio London:

"It was always going to be a hard day and Hampshire fought really hard, as we expected.

"We stuck to our task pretty well, we created some opportunities and we were unfortunate not to bowl them out.

"Cricket's a funny game and lots of things can happen on day four, so we've got to turn up full of belief that we can get 11 wickets."