Arun Harinath and Kumar Sangakkara led the Surrey fightback on the third day of their Specsavers County Championship 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 three 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 Notts.

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 maximum, 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.

HARRY GURNEY (Notts): "The pitch was probably a but little slower today but they batted very well. It takes it into an interesting fourth day and it’s a cricketing cliché, the first hour will be very important. The second new ball will be crucial, hopefully we can knock them over quickly and not have too many to chase."

TEA REPORT

Surrey’s hopes of avoiding defeat in their opening match of the new season were given a boost on the third afternoon of their Specsavers County Championship match against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge. Kumar Sangakkara and Arun Harinath added an unbroken 138 together for the second wicket to take the visitors to 163 for one in their second innings, 58 runs behind. A wet outfield wiped out the entire morning session and when play commenced at 2pm Jake Ball swiftly trapped Rory Burns lbw for 17. Sangakkara and Harinath, aided by some fluent cover drives and purposeful running, blunted the home attack, despite the bowler-friendly overhead conditions. Sangakkara reached his 50 from 62 deliveries, with nine fours and was unbeaten on 83 at tea, with Harinath on 53 not out, having got to his 50 from 107 balls.

LUNCH REPORT

No play was possible on the third morning of Nottinghamshire’s Specsavers County Championship match against Surrey at Trent Bridge. Overnight rain and morning drizzle left puddles on the outfield and with very little wind to blow it away conditions failed to improve until around midday. The groundstaff have started their mopping up operations and the umpires have confirmed that they will inspect at 1.25pm in order to assess the possibility of a resumption in play. At the close of the second day Surrey were on 14 without loss in their second innings, still 207 runs behind the home county.

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