County Championship: Ollie Pope makes 245 for Surrey against Leicestershire

Ollie Pope struck 30 fours in his innings of 245

England's Ollie Pope made a brilliant 245 as Surrey piled on the runs against Leicestershire on day three of their County Championship match at The Oval.

The 23-year-old, who resumed on 92, fell six short of his career-best 251 when he was stumped off Colin Ackermann before Surrey declared on 672-8.

Pope was involved in two huge stands of 229 with Ben Foakes (87) and 234 with Jamie Smith (123) for the fifth wicket.

Leicestershire closed on 21-0 in their second innings, trailing by 276.

Leicestershire's two opponents this season have now scored more than 600 runs in their first innings after Hampshire made 612-5 in their big victory over the Foxes in the opening round.

This time their bowlers had no answer to a batsman of Pope's class in a knock which only took 272 balls and included 30 fours.

While Pope has not quite fired at Test level, averaging 31.92 in his 17 matches for England, he pushed his first-class average beyond 50 in scoring his 10th hundred.

He looked disappointed when he was given out stumped, having just failed to get his foot back down in time after taking a big swing at Ackermann.

The right-hander would have surely set his sights on going beyond 300 - the first time a Surrey player would have done so since Kevin Pietersen hit 355 not out against Leicestershire in 2015.

The visitors had a glimmer of hope of keeping Surrey to a manageable score when England wicketkeeper Foakes was bowled by Dieter Klein just short of his second century of the season.

But from 322-4, Pope and 20-year-old Smith dominated as the latter went on to record his second first-class century.

Jordan Clark's rapid unbeaten 61 then took Surrey to their highest score in the County Championship since 2006 when they made 717 against Somerset.

Left with 17 overs to bat, Leicestershire openers Hassan Azad and Sam Evans saw them out to give the visitors a better chance of salvaging a draw.

Surrey double centurion Ollie Pope:

"I missed out against Gloucestershire last week so it was nice to cash in. It was really enjoyable batting with both Ben Foakes and Jamie Smith and it's just nice to be back at The Oval.

"We knew that if we were going to win this game then we had to keep them to 350 or so and then try to get ahead. It's still a good wicket so that was a big ask. But we broke it down.

"Jamie batted really well. He is class. Bringing up his hundred with a six shows he has real flair about him. I've never done that."

Leicestershire fast bowler Gavin Griffiths:

"We had no answer to Ollie Pope on what is still a very good pitch to bat on.

"But we have a massive incentive with the eight points available for a draw to get stuck in again with the bat.

"Hassan Azad and Sam Evans really fronted up in those last 17 overs. There's no reason that we can't come away with a good solid draw."