Despite scoring 603 in their first innings, Surrey travel back to the Kia Oval with a draw, as Chris Dent's double ton and rain ensured no result was possible against a resolute Gloucestershire side.
The match began miserably for a Surrey side starting the day atop the County Championship Division One, with Gloucestershire reducing the visitors to 37/3 as captain Graeme van Bueren won the toss and elected to field. Inspiring performances from Jamie Smith, unbeaten overnight on 111, and Ollie Pope (84) ensured Surrey recovered to finish 234/4 on day one.
The story of day two, as it was for day one, was the brilliance of Jamie Smith. The 21-year-old, who already has three hundreds to his name in the Championship this year, finished on 234*, frustrating Gloucestershire's tired attack with a Surrey record-breaking ninth-wicket stand of 244 alongside fellow ton-maker Jordan Clark. Matt Taylor (3-99) and David Payne (3-85) were the pick of the bowlers, as Surrey completed their their innings on 603 all out.
With a mammoth target set, the Gloucestershire opening pair had it all to do in the evening session. Former captain Chris Dent and Australian opener Marcus Harris came out positive, cover driving and cutting their way to an 88-ball half century stand, before ending the day on 85-0. Surrey's bowlers were given a taste of their own medicine, on a ferociously slow deck.
While Surrey may have started day three with high hopes of victory, Dent and Harris all-but closed the door on a match result, each bringing up their century with relative ease. It wasn't until the 77th over that the pair's stand was brought to an end, Surrey debutant Colin de Grandhomme nicking off Harris for 124, but not before the score had risen to 296/1. After waiting more than five hours to get a bat, Gloucestershire number three James Bracey was then quickly dismissed by Jordan Clark for a duck; the door looked slightly ajar.
But, as Jamie Smith had done in Surrey's innings, Chris Dent ensured no bowling counterattack could be mounted. He brought up his 150 in the afternoon session with a pull shot off a tired Clark, before finishing the day on 204*, alongside Miles Hammond (75*). Gloucestershire managed to amass a total of 443-2 at the end of day three.
Dent was unable to chase down his first-class best of 268, however, as persistent rain fully put to bed the chances of a result at the Bristol County Ground; the umpires opting to abandon play shortly after 1:30pm. Gloucestershire will be the happier of the two sides in a game that saw combined figures of 1046-12, with Surrey currently ahead of the pack in Division One.
Surrey next face off against Northamptonshire at the Kia Oval on 5th May, while Gloucestershire head down to Hampshire.
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