Surrey 225 and 297 for 5 (Harinath 114*, Sangakkara 83, Ball 3-77) lead Nottinghamshire 446 by 76 runs
Scorecard
Arun Harinath dug in throughout a shortened third day to give Surrey hope of surviving © Getty Images
Arun Harinath and Kumar Sangakkara led the Surrey fightback on the third day of their match against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.
Harinath scored an undefeated 114 and Sangakkara made 83 as the pair shared a second wicket stand of 142, to help propel the visitors to 297 for five by stumps, an overall lead of 76 runs. Jake Ball was the most impressive bowler on display, returning figures of 3 for 77.
A wet outfield wiped out the entire morning session, leaving players and spectators alike having to come to terms with the news surrounding James Taylor’s enforced retirement from the game.
When play commenced at 2pm Ball was immediately clipped through midwicket for a brace of boundaries before adjusting his line slightly to trap Rory Burns lbw for 17.
Aided by some fluent cover drives and purposeful running, Sangakkara reached his 50 from 62 deliveries, with nine fours and was unbeaten on 83 at tea.
At that stage Surrey had reduced their deficit to only 58 and had two batsmen well set at the crease but the resumption tilted the balance back towards Nottinghamshire. Ball struck with his opening delivery of the final session, having Sangakkara caught behind by Chris Read, before following up with an identical dismissal to get Steven Davies for nought.
Jason Roy, who had blazed a punchy 28 in the first innings, helped Harinath wipe out the deficit with some powerful drives but the overall lead was only 12 when he was pinned in his crease by Brett Hutton for 37.
Harinath moved to 96 with his first six, hooking Hutton over the square-leg fence and then reached three figures by sweeping Samit Patel fine for his 14th boundary, from his 182nd delivery.
Ben Foakes played his second attractive knock of the match but, as in the first innings when he fell for 38, he threw away the chance of a sizeable score when he chipped straight back to Patel for 26 after a stand of 55.
Surrey’s hopes of emerging unscathed – or better – will depend on Harinath being able to extend his innings deep into the final day, with the second new ball only seven overs away.
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo