SURREY may still be winless in the County Championship but they got their one-day campaign off to a great start with a comprehensive nine-wicket win over reigning YB40 champions Hampshire at the Oval on Monday.
The Royals won the toss and decided to bat first, but with Zafar Ansari taking 4-46, his best figures in limited overs cricket, Hampshire finished on 228.
Surrey skipper Graeme Smith shrugged off his early season disappointments and put on a good partnership with Steven Davies.
The pair started the chase in emphatic style and set a marker down going at ten an over. Both batsmen matched each other run for run and the Hampshire bowlers could not keep them quiet. Davies played gracefully and Smith was powerful as they put the visitors under pressure.
They took Surrey past 150 in the 19th over until Smith was caught off the bowling of Dawson on 74 to leave Surrey 162-1.
However, Davies carried on his blistering performance alongside Vikram Solanki, eventually amassing a career best of 127 not out, with Solanki on 22 not out.
And while it was not a win for Surrey in the County Championship this week against Middlesex, they are also still unbeaten as Smith's men racked up their third draw of the season.
Opener Rory Burns got the visitors off to a superb start with a patient 114 runs from the first innings but partner Smith was dismissed for a duck; caught by Dawid Malan off the bowling of Tim Murtagh.
Arun Harinath (61) and Solanki (43) played their part well as Surrey were all out for 338.
Jade Dernbach (3-59) led the way with some disciplined bowling as Middlesex were all out for 166 in their first innings.
However, Surrey were undone by Australian Chris Rogers in Middlesex's second innings as the skipper notched up a double century, finishing on 214 alongside Sam Robson's 129.
Despite both Burns and Harinath collecting their first first-class wickets, Middlesex finally declared on a massive 514-8.
All the visitors were left with was time for some batting practice, although captain Smith came out of his recent run of bad scores with 48 of his side's second innings total of 85-1.
Surrey are now seventh in the table on 25 points.