Hampshire aiming to stop Pope’s remarkable Oval form against them

Hampshire go into their latest County Championship match today aiming to stop Ollie Pope’s incredible run of Oval centuries against them.

Hampshire go into their latest County Championship match today aiming to stop

Ollie Pope’s incredible run of centuries against them.

The Surrey and England batter is averaging a huge 125.88 from 12 first-class innings against Hampshire - six of which have ended in three-figure scores.

As the feature at the top of this page shows, Pope has scored a century in each of Hampshire’s last five Championship visits to the Kia Oval - including an unbeaten double ton.

Hampshire entered this season with high hopes of mounting a serious challenge for a trophy they have not won since 1973.

But a damp start saw their opening game at Durham completely washed out followed by Utilita Bowl draws with Lancashire and Warwickshire.

As a result, Hampshire already trail early-season leaders Essex by 27 points while they are 19 adrift of Surrey.

Pope was included in the

Surrey side for last week’s draw with Somerset, but was dismissed for 11 twice.

James Vince’s side are also bidding for a rare victory at Surrey, having only won three times at The Oval in a first-class game since 1967.

The last occasion was in 2008, when the visitors romped to an innings and 122-run win - Nic Pothas (137 no) and Dimi Mascarenhas (99) adding 165 for Hampshire’s seventh wicket in their 480-8 declared total.

Hampshire might have lost four of their last five Championship games at Surrey, but they can take confidence from the fact they are one of only two counties to have beaten them in a first-class game since the start of the 2022 season.

Surrey have only lost three Championship games in their last two title-winning seasons – to Lancashire (at Old Trafford in 2022 and at The Oval last year) and at Hampshire last September.