If the weather holds today, Hampshire have a sporting chance of securing the victory that would preserve their first division status, while defeat for Surrey would confirm relegation. The London club batted as disappointingly as they had bowled, and although Mark Ramprakash is still at the crease, they look almost certain to follow on, still needing another 160 to save it.

When play started at 2.15pm, it did not take long for Surrey to run into trouble. Matthew Spriegel fell wafting outside off stump, and although Scott Newman thumped a 58-ball fifty with ten fours, he surrendered his wicket with a loose back-foot force that ended up in cover's hands. In the same over, Jon Batty ran himself out, unwisely taking on Michael Carberry who swooped quickly from cover to score a direct hit at the non-striker's end.

Buckling under the pressure imposed by some disciplined Hampshire bowling on a pitch offering their attack a little encouragement, Surrey's lower middle order imploded. After James Tomlinson had trapped Usman Afzaal leg before, Imran Tahir took three wickets in rapid succession with his deceptive leg breaks in an excellent spell.Alex Tudor, batting as high as number six, was caught at silly point after lunging forward; James Benning was bowled driving at one that looked like a googly; and Saqlain Mushtaq was caught trying to sweep. Jade Dernbach survived the last five overs of another disastrous day for Surrey, but looked ill-equipped to give Ramprkash the sort of support he will need if they are to get remotely close to their follow-on target of 331.

Ramprakash, almost run out off the penultimate ball of the day when he went for a risky single to Carberry, completed his fifty off 107 balls, looking as solid as ever. Since making his 100th hundred at Headingley, county cricket's run-machine has strung together scores of 200 not out, 178, 43, 127 and now 55 not out. A seventh hundred of the summer looks out of reach in this innings but, sadly for Surrey, he looks certain to get another chance in the second.

If Surrey do not bowl again in this match, they face the prospect of being deducted two points for their slow over-rate, a penalty that could leave them without a point from this match if they make less than 200 in the first innings and lose.

Hampshire: First Innings 480 for 8 dec (N Pothas 137 not out, A D Mascarenhas 99, M J Lumb 72)

Surrey: First Innings

S A Newman c Brown b Tomlinson 58

M N W Spriegel c Pothas b Mascarenhas 0

*M R Ramprakash not out 55

J N Batty run out 0

U Afzaal lbw b Tomlinson 20

A J Tudor lbw b Tahir 0

J G E Benning b Tahir 18

Saqlain Mushtaq c Ervine b Tahir 1

J W Dernbach not out 2

Extras (b 13, lb 2, nb 2) 17

Total (7 wkts, 55 overs) 171

Shoaib Akhtar and P T Collins to bat.

Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-78, 3-78, 4-123, 5-126, 6-162, 7-164.

Bowling: Tremlett 13-2-47-0; Mascarenhas 12-6-35-1; Tomlinson 15-4-51-2; Tahir 15-4-23-3.

Umpires: N J Llong and N A Mallender.