James Vince completely changed the complexion of Hampshire’s Specsavers County Championship clash with Surrey with an outrageous 59-ball 91.

A green-tinged Ageas Bowl wicket had seen 23 wickets fall in a day and a half before Vince arrived at the crease.

Vince, whose efforts may have caught the England selectors’ eyes ahead of tours to New Zealand and South Africa this winter, smacked 18 boundaries in his exceptional knock.

The Hampshire captain, having moved down Hampshire’s batting order to No.5, was guided through his swashbuckling innings by Sam Northeast, who scored 73, while Felix Organ earlier recorded his third half-century of the season.

Surrey started the second day trailing by six runs but quickly found themselves in the black, only to lose their remaining three wickets in six overs.

Rikki Clarke was lbw to Kyle Abbott following a high-quality 40 and Morne Morkel was run out before Keith Barker returned 4-38, his best figures for Hampshire, when he castled Amar Virdi.

Hampshire, who conceded a 13-run first-innings deficit, were 39-2.

Ian Holland left a Morkel delivery which jagged back and clipped the top of the off-stump before Tom Alsop was caught behind.

But Organ steadied the ship, alongside Northeast, with a patient innings which belied his 20 years, while still taking the opportunity to tick the scoreboard along.

The academy graduate has scored a century and two fifties in three Championship appearances this season, with yesterday’s fifty coming from 73 balls and brought up with a controlled edge to the third man boundary.

His innings ended on 54 when he edged to Clarke at first slip, bringing Vince to the crease.

From the moment he carved an edge over the slips, Vince looked at home at the wicket – with back-foot pushes, trademark cover drives and clips off the pads aplenty.

He reached fifty in 37 balls and bludgeoned his way to 91 before edging Amar Virdi to first slip – the second time he had departed in the nervy 90s in his Championship career.

Among Vince’s carnage, Northeast, who has 930 Championship runs this season, had played a gem of an innings at the other end.

The former Kent batsman had played a part in the 129 runs in 16.3overs with Vince before he reached a slightly more sedate 71-ball 50.

Northeast departed when he edged to Clarke before Aneurin Donald was bowled by Virdi. But Liam Dawson’s caressing and Lewis McManus’ hitting, extended Hampshire’s lead to 283.

Due to a rain delay either side of tea and bad light stopping play early, 32 overs were lost from the day.

Vince said: “It was a good day for us. We spoke in the morning about ending their innings quickly which we managed to do. Felix batted well, the wicket suited batting better than yesterday and we got through the new ball without too much damage.

“It got easier in their bowlers’ third and fourth spells.

“The partnership between myself and Sam put them under pressure. They had to go defensive and I think their bowlers will be disappointed with the way they bowled. I can’t remember too many periods where we had to play a forward defence to consecutive balls. We spoke this morning about the best way to bat on the pitch and not to wait for one which will get you out.My movement and timing was as good as it’s been for a while.”

“I tried to be positive but I don’t think I played many rash spots. I cashed in on anything on the stumps but don’t think I hit anything in the air.

Surrey all-rounder Rikki Clarke:

“It has been a very different game to yesterday. They are in a good position. We managed to take wickets but they managed to get away from us.

“The pitch is playing a bit better but fundamentally we could have bowled better as well.

“They came out and played some shots and chanced their arm a bit but we gave them a few runs which was the disappointing factor.

“It is hard to say what is chaseable. If we bat well and bat with discipline then the wicket has got better then it is all about how we go about it.

“We must come back tomorrow and find out disciplines with the ball and re-find the way we bowled on day one and restrict them as much as we can.”