Dan Lawrence and Ollie Pope led Surrey’s charge with aggressive centuries on day three against Sussex at Hove, before bad light halted their momentum late in the day.
Surrey closed at 390-3, trailing Sussex’s first-innings total of 435 by just 45 runs. Lawrence was unbeaten on 117 when play was stopped ten minutes after tea, while Pope earlier celebrated his first County Championship hundred in over two years.
However, the loss of 36 overs due to deteriorating light could hamper Surrey’s hopes of setting up a tricky final day for Sussex.
Pope made 103 and looked in fine touch throughout, while Lawrence capitalized on a life given to him at 35—dropped badly by substitute fielder George Thomas. Lawrence powered his way to his first ton of the season off just 92 balls, launching six sixes in the process. Two of those came in one over, when Ollie Robinson went short with a packed leg-side field.
While the pitch has offered little help to bowlers, Sussex will still believe they can secure a draw. After being promoted this season and earning a win and a draw from their first two matches, this has been a reminder of the tougher challenge in Division One.
For Pope, this was a particularly personal milestone. It marked his first Championship hundred away from The Oval since his maiden century in Southampton eight years ago. The 27-year-old had struggled in last season’s red-ball campaign, averaging modestly in between England duties. But a composed 65 against Hampshire last week signaled a return to form, and he built on it in ideal batting conditions at Hove.
He punished anything loose with authority, collecting 11 boundaries and lofting James Coles’ spin over mid-wicket for six—nearly falling to a stunning boundary catch by Jayden Seales.
Pope’s 22nd first-class century came just before he fell for 103, gloving a short ball from the impressive Seales just two deliveries later.
Earlier in the day, Pope and Dom Sibley put on 179 for the second wicket in 42 overs. Sibley appeared set for his third hundred in a row before miscuing a return catch to Coles. It was a soft dismissal after he had earlier cleared the ropes and struck ten fours. Both batters may feel they missed out on even bigger scores.
Lawrence quickly found rhythm after joining the action. Thomas’s costly drop at backward square leg off a frustrated Robinson allowed Lawrence to flourish. Five of his six sixes sailed over the leg side, while a straight drive off Coles stood out as a moment of pure class.
At the other end, Ben Foakes offered steady support, even lifting Coles for a one-knee six.
Lawrence brought up his 18th first-class century with a thick edge over the slips off Robinson, his eighth boundary of the innings. Surrey racked up 162 runs between lunch and tea in just 29 overs.
Only two more overs were possible in the evening due to the fading light, with Sussex dealing with an injury to Danny Lamb, who was unable to bowl after hurting his shoulder on Saturday. They’ll be relieved for the chance to reset overnight, with a relatively fresh ball just six overs old waiting for them on day four.