Rory Burns, the Surrey opening batsman, struck his first century of the season as the visitors made light work on a flat track at the Ageas Bowl.

Burns, who became the 2,000th Surrey player to reach three figures in first-class cricket, looked at ease during his 144 ball stay before knocking his 17th boundary to take him to three figures.

Hampshire, who toiled for nearly two thirds of the day, finally had something to cheer about in the evening as they pegged the away side back somewhat with a handful of wickets.

The early stages of this match was always going to rely heavily on who won the toss, with the track looking impeccably hard and flat.

Gareth Batty as predictably refused the offer of bowling first before winning the coin flip - the skipper has yet to lose a toss this season.

Burns, with the equally unimpeachable Dominic Sibley, saw off the first session with ease - the pair already up to 72 in the opening hour, Hampshire already being forced to use all four seamers.

Burns quickly moved past 4,500 runs for his first-class career, before reaching his 25th format fifty at an almost run a ball 54 deliveries.

He continued to cash in after lunch to climb to three figure, playing the aggressor to Sibley's watchful style, in 144 balls.

Sibley, who passed his half century in almost same amount of time it took Burns to reach a ton, 141 balls, was waiting patiently for the poor ball to come along and capitalise on.

The partnership appeared impenetrable with seemingly every option exhausted - before Mason Crane produced a corker to see off Burns 10 balls before tea.

The young leg spinner pitching one outside off stump and back of a length to the left hander to turn back to cramp Burns up for space - edging low to Sean Ervine at first slip.

Crane continued his troubling turners to get Zafar Ansari before he had got going - tempting the al-rounder down the track before Lewis McManus smartly swivelled and stumped.

Soon after the new ball was taken, which was the first thing to cause Sibley a sweat in his heavy cable knit jumper.

Reaching 99, the only other time he has a Specsavers County Championship century was on his debut when he bagged a record 242, he was bowled by a Gareth Berg delivery which moved back off the seam to crunch into the off stump.

Berg, who finished the day the pick of the bowlers with two for 47, then had a short and tempered battle with Jason Roy - the bowler, after missing the outside edge twice and having an lbw shout turned down, finally got his man leg before.

Quietly, as the wickets tumbled around him, Australian international Aaron Finch teed off in entertaining fashion - pilfering a quick 50 before the close to stand overnight on 56, his team on top at 332 for four.

Surrey batsman Rory Burns: "I am delighted to have contributed for the first time this season. We have spoken about started better in games and 330-odd for four at the end of the day is where we want to be and we will build on it tomorrow. We would quite like to take a couple of wickets off, mine included, but we would hundred per cent take this at the start of the day.

"That opening stand is what we have been asking for, I thought Sibbo batted beautifully with great tempo and full credit to him. It was nice to score a hundred. If I was asking for a ball to get for the hundred that would be it for me.

"I was told by Twitter I had scored the 2,00th century, I don't know who scored the first! It is a quite nice record, it's one for mum and dad and the history books. It swung most of the day and every so often one stands up a bit and others stay low."

Hampshire bowler Gareth Berg: "It was although day. The weather played a massive part - we have not played in these muggy conditions this season yet. It was muggy and sweaty and took a lot out of us as a batting unit. We were in the chance of some early wickets but they batted well. We didn't hit out straps early and gave them the momentum.

"We tried our best but when you are chasing the eight ball after a couple of overs when they are set with some runs it is difficult to come back. We came back at the end there which was good with the new ball which gave us a boost. Hopefully if we stick to our plans out there we will get some more wickets.

"The pitch was a little bit slow to start with but it is going to get quicker as the game goes on. Quite a nice one to bat on. We were looking to bowl ourselves which were not too sure about now.

"We need to control the flow of the board in the morning and get a couple of early wickets. Finchy is a big wicket but there is always a chance with him. Davo is a good player as well. They have the edge on day one but a couple of wickets at the end was positive."

TEA REPORT

Surrey batsman Rory Burns cashed in on a batting paradise to become Surrey's 2,000 first-class century maker - as the visitors continued to push their advantage in the afternoon session.

Burns, who early scored his 4,500 first-class run, notched his maiden ton of the season in 144 balls in exemplary style.

He eventually fell in the penultimate over before tea to the hard working Mason Crane - mistiming a cut straight to Sean Ervine at first slip.

The wicket ended a 208 run stand with Dominic Sibley - who reached the interval on an unbeaten 70.

The 20-year-old reached back-to-back Specsavers County Championship fifties in a watchful 141 deliveries.

LUNCH REPORT

Surrey batsman Rory Burns made Hampshire labour on a batsman friendly wicket - by notching his 25th first-class fifty.

Burns, along with opening partner Dominic Sibley, hurried Surrey along with a wicketless first session - reaching 113 at lunch.

Gareth Batty had won the toss and batted on a belting batting track for the battle of Division One's bottom two sides.

Burns reached his half century in 54 balls, passing 4,500 first-class career runs, with just a tough chance of a caught behind the closest Hampshire came to a scalp.

Burns reached 65 at the interval, with Sibley on a carefree unbeaten 32. Gareth Berg the pick of the home bowling with his eight overs offering just six runs.

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