Pope hit 131 and South African star Amla stroked an unbeaten 215 from 367 balls as Surrey moved to 3-513 at the halfway point of their Group Two clash.

It was Amla's seventh first-class double hundred and the pair put on 257 in 62 overs for the third wicket, a Surrey record against Hampshire at the Oval.

By stumps, Surrey were 421 runs ahead, having shot out Hampshire for a mere 92 on day one, and on course for a first win of the season at the fourth attempt.

At Taunton, James Hildreth became the fourth highest first-class run maker in Somerset's history as his 39 took him past Bill Alley's tally of 16,644 to leave him just behind Harold Gimblett, Marcus Trescothick and Peter Wight.

An unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 80 between George Bartlett (43 not out) and first-class debutant Lewis Goldsworthy (34 not out) took Somerset to 4-178 and 179 adrift of Middlesex's first-innings 357.

Leicestershire are also firmly on top against Gloucestershire after Lewis Hill's second first-class century and four wickets from Chris Wright.

Hill took his overnight 77 to 121 as Leicestershire posted 421 in 144.1 overs and Wright then helped plunge Gloucestershire from 1-99 to 6-121 in a calamitous half-hour.

Sussex offspinner Jack Carson continued his impressive start to the season with four wickets as Lancashire were pegged back at Hove.

The 20-year-old from Northern Ireland finished the second day with 4-50 from 28 overs as Lancashire reached 6-193 in reply to Sussex's 328.

Saif Zaib and Tom Taylor scored fifties as Northamptonshire reached 234 to secure a 28-run first-innings lead against Yorkshire at Headingley.

In Group One, Essex registered their highest championship score for five years as Tom Westley punished Worcestershire at New Road again.

Westley hit his third century in his last four matches on the ground - two for his county and one for England Lions - as Essex reached 8-561 declared.

Dan Lawrence, Paul Walter and Simon Harmer also scored half-centuries, after Sir Alastair Cook's opening-day hundred, before Worcestershire closed on 37 without loss.

Nottinghamshire dominated Derbyshire to score 318 in their second innings and establish a considerable lead of 469.

Luke Fletcher completed a five-wicket haul as Derbyshire were skittled for 105 before half-centuries from Haseeb Hameed (94), Ben Duckett (87) and Joe Clarke (53) drove home Nottinghamshire's advantage.

Openers Alex Lees and Will Young both scored centuries as Durham reached 4-287 in response to Warwickshire's 87 all out.

Lees remained unbeaten on 126 with Young falling for 124, the pair having shared an opening stand of 208.

Australian Associated Press