Mark Ramprakash and Mark Butcher kept their concentration expertly through a rain interrupted afternoon and evening session at the Brit Oval, to take Surrey to 127 for two at the close on day two.

Hampshire resumed play this morning, with Shane Warne and Nic Pothas the two not out batsmen overnight. Their intent became evident straight away, as Warne started using his feet to Salisbury, whilst Pothas manoeuvred the ball around the pitch to make his way towards his half-century.

Last week's centurion, Newman was out for a duck before lunch
Warne repeatedly smeared the ball to the boundary but when Jimmy Ormond returned at the Pavilion End, he latched onto a wide short delivery only to be well caught in the deep by Mark Ramprakash.

When Shaun Udal followed his captain only a matter of two overs later, lbw to Ian Salisbury, Surrey would have felt that at 416 for eight, Hampshire’s remaining two wickets would come quickly. However this was not to be the case, as Pothas farmed the strike effectively until both he and Hampshire’s number ten, James Bruce, unleashed an array of shots to take their side past 450.

A surprise declaration came upon the dismissal of Bruce leaving an awkward 20 minute period for Surrey to negotiate. Staring at a deficit of 481 runs, Scott Newman and Jonathan Batty were both dismissed caught behind, to leave Surrey 11 for two at the break.

A rain and bad light effected afternoon’s play saw Surrey’s two most experience players battle through a testing situation. When the covers were brought on to force an early tea interval, Mark Butcher and Mark Ramprakash had taken the score to 47 for two.

Although there had been a heavy period of rainfall, the excellent work from the Surrey ground staff allowed play to get underway without any further delay. However a promising period from Ramprakash and Butcher, which saw the ball regularly fly to the boundary, was once again curtailed by bad light.

Ramprakash played very positively to finish the day 71 not out
Play seemed as though it would almost certainly be abandoned for the day, however a few rays of sunshine burst through the dark clouds to provide an opportunity for 13 overs of cricket.

Un-phased by the situation a belligerent Ramprakash moved swiftly to his half century, seizing on anything slightly loose. Butcher played with slightly more caution nevertheless clinically tucking the bad ball away as Surrey went past 100.

The introduction of Warne with only a few overs to go showed that the pitch will take some turn in the coming days, but Butcher, on 49, and Ramprakash, 71 not out, took Surrey safely to the close on 127 for two.

To see the scorecard of today's play, click here.

Match information:

If you would like to come down to watch Surrey take on Hampshire at the Brit Oval tomorrow, tickets will cost £6 for under 16s and £12 for adults. Gates will be open from 10am, with play scheduled to get under way at 11am.

For the duration of Surrey’s LV County Championship match against Hampshire, access to the ground will only be available from the turnstiles at the Pavilion End of the ground.

As always, BBC London will be providing live, ball-by-ball coverage throughout Surrey's clash with Hampshire. To listen to the commentary, click here.

You will also miss none of the action by clicking onto Surrey County Cricket Club’s brand new service Surrey TV, which will offer you special features, as well as a highlights package from the day’s play. Click here or go to www.surreycricket.tv.

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