Lewis McManus notched his maiden senior century to give Hampshire a chance of stealing a draw against Surrey at the Ageas Bowl.

Wicket keeper McManus frustrated Surrey's bowlers with an unbeaten 70 run stand with Brad Wheal for the 10th wicket.

Sean Ervine, Adam Wheater and Gareth Berg, 52, 59 and 40 respectively, also chipped the visitor's monumental first innings total of 637 - Hampshire 239 behind and still 90 short of the follow-on target.

McManus, who ended the day 117 not out, had a first-class average of just 1.66 this season before his potentially match saving innings.

His only other Specsavers County Championship innings of note earned a draw for his side against Durham last summer, kick starting Hampshire's relegation escape, where he collected 53 not out.

This time the former England under 19 man was gritty and took on the fight, only playing a shot when he needed to - although took a liking to leg side deliveries from Gareth Batty, dispatching the Surrey skipper into the stands twice.

The morning session had seen wickets fall at a semi-regular rate, Dominic Sibley, the part-time leg spinner a thorn in Hampshire's side.

He took two early scalps, Ryan McLaren leg before to the first ball of the day and then Tom Alsop two overs later as the hosts look set to have a day of panic.

Wheater and Ervine skipped the total along by 102 in attacking fashion, the latter surviving a second slip drop by Jason Roy on his way to a third fifty of the season, on the back of a double ton last week.

He fell to Mark Footitt soon before lunch and Ervine departed soon after the interval and his third half century of the campaign - run out by a Rory Burns direct hit.

Gareth Berg and McManus then added 52 for the seventh wicket, with the former attacking the tiring Surrey attack.

Berg scored 40 before he expected a Gareth Batty off break to turn but straightened and clipped the top of his off stump.

McManus, meanwhile, was plugged away to bag his first fifty of the season - from 93 balls, his next fifty to reach an well-deserved first voyage to three figures came from 171.

Berg was bowled by Batty 10 short of a milestone score after sticking 52 onto the score with McManus.

Gareth Andrew put on 71 with the man of the day as Surrey toiled in the searing south coast heat before he nicked to Roy at first slip and Mason Crane was castled by Batty.

But a hard-working 10th wicket handed the home side a fifth bonus point for the match and boosted hopes of getting away with a draw.

Hampshire wicketkeeper batsman Lewis McManus: "It is a brilliant feeling. It is one of those were you never really know if it will come or not but it was one of the best feeling I've had on a cricket field. I've had a bit of a run this year and it is always nice to repay the coaches for the faith they've shown and hopefully this will start a run of runs.

"The situation freed me up. I had a lot of time to get in and the pressure of scoring isn't there. The wicket isn't easy when you first get in but once you are there it is a nice pace to bat on. I've looked at conditions and thought it could be my day before and its almost bad luck.

"I did think when I got to 80s or 90s I didn't think I would get this close and then the nerves kicked in. It was a simple game plan, going up in fives and bat as long as I could for the team. It is up to me and Whealy now to prolong as long as we can. It is pretty simple what we have to do as a team.

"When we got key to the bonus points it was key to get them as come the end of the season you never know, we show last year that every point is crucial. Cricket is a strange game and if you look too far ahead it can come and bit you. It is very clear what we have to do and take it over by over and fingers cross we can get over the line."

Surrey head coach Michael Di Venuto: "It was always going to be a hard day in beautiful weather today. Hampshire batted really well as we expected, it was never going to be easy and they were fortunate towards the end but fair play to the way they played.

"We said before we needed to be patient, persistent and chip away throughout the day. We stuck to our task well today and created some opportunities and we were unfortunate not to bowl them out.

"Cricket is a funny game and lots of things can happen on day four. We will turn up full of belief tomorrow knowing we can get 11 wickets. We spun the boys round well today, we didn't overcook anyone too much and it is an important day tomorrow."

TEA REPORT

Sean Ervine and Lewis McManus both collected half centuries as Hampshire continued to grind down.

Ervine struck back-to-back boundaries to bring up his third fifty of the season - but was run out without facing another ball, after taking on Rory Burn's arm.

Gareth Berg and McManus then added 52 for the seventh wicket, with the former attacking the tiring Surrey attack.

Berg scored 40 before he expected a Gareth Batty off break to turn but straightened and clipped the top of his off stump.

McManus, meanwhile, plugged away to bag his first fifty of the season - from 93 balls.

Hampshire reached tea on 311 for seven, 326 runs behind and still 177 short of the follow on target.

LUNCH REPORT

Surrey continued their assault on Hampshire by taking three morning wickets - the hosts still 451 runs behind.

Dominic Sibley grabbed two early wickets before Mark Footitt celebrated his third scalp of the innings soon before the interval.

Leg spinner Sibley had Ryan McLaren leg before to the first delivery of the day to end a 68 run stand with Tom Alsop for the third wicket - after falling to 5 for two yesterday evening.

The next over the part time bowler got rid of a driving Alsop, caught at first slip by Jason Roy.

Wheater and Ervine then pushed the runs forward by adding 59 in a swift counter attack.

Wheater, who scored a double century against Warwickshire last week, rode his luck when he was dropped by Roy at second slip - while loosely driving to Footitt.

He fought back to score his third half century of the season off 68 balls but fell 10 minutes before lunch - chipping up to Steven Davies at cover from a Footitt cutter.

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