County Championship: Tom Alsop century leads Hampshire response against Surrey

Hampshire's Tom Alsop reached a maiden first-class century in his 14th match

Tom Alsop hit his maiden first-class century as Hampshire replied well against Surrey at The Oval.

Alsop compiled a measured innings, making the most of being dropped twice, and reached his hundred off 169 balls.

Surrey had resumed on 260-6 and Brad Wheal's 4-100 helped bowl them out for 329, with Gareth Batty left 41 not out.

Hampshire's England batsman James Vince was caught behind for four, before Alsop's unbeaten 117 saw the visitors close on 213-3, trailing by 116 runs.

• READ MORE: Alsop dedicates maiden century to Carberry

South African bowler Ryan McLaren gave relegation-threatened Hampshire the ideal start, bowling Ben Foakes for 48, and although Batty's attacking style injected life into Surrey's innings, Wheal and spinner Liam Dawson polished off the tail.

The away side's innings got off to a poor start as Jimmy Adams was caught behind off Tom Curran, with Will Smith (49) suffering the same fate as he tried to leave a length ball from Mark Footitt.

Vince edged while driving at a wide delivery - a regular method of dismissal during his recent Test appearances for England - to give Footitt his second scalp.

Alsop earned his first reprieve when he was put down at second slip by Steven Davies on 74, and the 20-year-old was then put down by Sam Curran at midwicket on 90 before narrowly escaping being run out by Dominic Sibley at point three overs later.

He reached three figures with a two off a misfield at midwicket by Curran, having hit 15 fours in his innings, and his unbroken fourth-wicket stand with Sean Ervine (30 not out) was worth 88 runs by the close.