Akram wraps up big win for Surrey

County Championship D1, Rose Bowl (day three): Surrey 361 beat Hampshire 146 & 160 by an innings & 55 runs
Points: Surrey 21, Hampshire 3

Scorecard

Surrey's bowlers were on song for the second day running as Hampshire were defeated by an innings and 55 runs in the Division One game at the Rose Bowl.

After Harbhajan Singh's 6-36 had confined the hosts to 146 in their first innings they fared little better on Friday after following on.

Pakistani seamer Mohammad Akram did most of the damage as Hampshire were bowled out for 160 in 33.3 overs.

He took 5-41 with John Crawley (67) standing alone among Hampshire batsmen.

It looks like Surrey are getting in position to take the title From LL Have your say on TMS

The result, Surrey's third win of the season, means they are now locked with Hampshire on 100 points to be joint second in the Championship table.

Warwickshire, who were five points clear before this round of matches, are struggling in their match against Kent.

Jimmy Ormond removed the top three batsmen in the Hampshire line-up in the early exchanges of day three.

Crawley responded with 13 boundaries from just 62 balls faced before he was stumped off Harbhajan, who also removed Nic Pothas for a duck.

Akram removed the rest of the middle order before lunch and was helped by an outstanding diving catch by subtitute Tim Murtagh on the third man boundary as Craig McMillan fell for four.

The Pakistani ace added to his haul with the dismissals of Shane Warne and Billy Taylor within 20 minutes of the resumption.

When we lose, we lose in style Paul Terry Hampshire coach

So with more than a day-and-a-half remaining, Surrey had run out comfortable winners.

Graham Thorpe, captaining Surrey in the absence of the injured Mark Ramprakash, said: "We felt we had to win this game to get back into the championship.

"We are now in not a bad position at this stage of the season in the top three.

"I thought we'd played some excellent cricket on a sporting pitch in which there was something for the bowlers.

"Everybody contributed and we took five stunning catches. The one by Murtagh was incredible."

Hampshire coach Paul Terry could not take any consolation from the defeat as he said: "We were outplayed in all departments. When we lose, we lose in style."