Hampshire Spinners Crush Surrey for Record Innings Defeat

Hampshire's spinners, Felix Organ and Liam Dawson, unleashed a devastating performance to crush Surrey by an innings and 278 runs, handing the reigning champions their heaviest-ever Vitality County Championship innings defeat.

Organ claimed his third career five-wicket haul, while Dawson picked up 4 for 45, as Surrey collapsed for 127 and 203. The victory marked Hampshire's first home win of the season and their largest-ever victory.

Surrey's only heavier defeats in first-class cricket came against England in 1866 and Don Bradman's Australians in 1948, both by an innings and 296 runs.

The spin-fest began after Keith Barker dismissed Rory Burns, but it was Dawson and Organ who wreaked havoc. Dom Sibley fell to an inside edge, while Ollie Pope was pinned back by a wicked off-spinner.

Organ continued his dominance, trapping Jamie Smith and Dan Lawrence. Ben Foakes showed resilience with an unbeaten 19, but wickets continued to tumble. Dawson caught Cam Steel at first slip, yorked Jordan Clark, and bowled Gus Atkinson. Organ completed his five-for when Sean Abbott chipped to mid-on, and Dawson closed out the match by bowling Dan Worrall.

Earlier, Ben Brown reached his 24th first-class century, and Hampshire amassed a mammoth 608 for 6 declared. Brown's 165 not out was the highest score of the match, while James Vince declared with his side 481 runs ahead.

Hampshire's victory has opened up the title race, with Essex and Somerset now hot on the heels of Surrey at the summit of Division One.

Tags: #Hampshire, #Surrey, #VitalityCountyChampionship, #FelixOrgan, #LiamDawson