Five star Kyle takes top spot from Dimi
Kyle Abbott became Utilita Bowl’s greatest-ever wickettaker as Hampshire showed a chink in champions Surrey’s quest for a third straight County Championship crown.
Fast bowler Abbott overtook Dimi Mascarenhas’ 186 scalps at the ground as his predatory post-lunch spell of 5-25 put him on 188 home wickets since initially arriving in 2014.
The South African was supplemented by Liam Dawson’s 3-21 as Surrey were rolled for 127 – although with the warning that they recovered from 15-4 to beat Worcestershire last week.
To add to Surrey, and potentially England’s, woes, wicket-keeper Ben Foakes didn’t keep wicket due to a back spasm, as Hampshire ground out a glacial 102-1 in reply.
A relatively even morning session was headlined by Dawson picking off Surrey’s distinguished top-order, after the visitors had chosen to bat first on a used pitch.
The left-arm spinner entered the attack in the 10th over and stuck after just four deliveries, as Dom Sibley returned a simple caught and bowled.
After a missed chance to stump Rory Burns, Ollie Pope attempted to pump Dawson over long-on but mistimed to Keith Barker at mid-on to hand the all-rounder his 300th firstclass wicket for Hampshire.
His 301st came soon after when Burns turned to short leg, before Jamie Smith ended the morning session by having his stumps rearranged by debutant Michael Neser – the Australian coming in for Mohammed Abbas, who has returned home.
The interval score of 89-4 slightly flattered the hosts, but when they returned, Abbott got his tail up and demolished the middle and lower order.