A masterclass from Kumar Sangakkara (136) and a maiden century in Surrey colours for Scott Borthwick (108*) prevented Lancashire from claiming an improbable victory on the final day at The Oval.
The Sri-Lankan veteran made his 57th first-class hundred and shared a mammoth partnership worth 256 runs for the third wicket, batting for 65 overs to help Surrey recover after they had been made to follow-on.
Lancashire needed nine wickets to push a victory, but the Red Rose were made to settle for a draw after managing to claim two scalps on the fourth day. The players shook hands at 4.50 with Surrey on 323/3 in their second innings, a positive result for both sides after Lancashire fell to 67/5 on the first morning, before making Surrey bat again after they were dismissed for 319.
The final day started brightly for the visitors against the former Durham pairing of Borthwick and Mark Stoneman. The overnight duo looked to settle in against the left-arm spin of Stephen Parry but a lapse in concentration saw Stoneman stumped for 27 after being deceived by the flight of the delivery.
Despite making a positive start and finding an early breakthrough, it was not long before reality settled in for Lancashire's bowlers against the resilience and expertise of Sangakkara, who found able company in the sometimes unconventional, but highly effective Borthwick.
Both left-handers went to lunch on the verge of half-centuries after adding nearly 90 runs in the hour and a half before the interval. It was Borthwick who went to fifty first in 129 balls, bringing up the hundred-partnership in 159 deliveries not long after.
Sangakkara's general disdain and air of confidence against the spinner had been lacking on the third afternoon as Parry and Simon Kerrigan were allowed to dominate the middle order in Surrey's first innings, but he made Lancashire pay for the majority of the final day, reaching the 85th fifty of his first-class career.
Much like Shivnarine Chanderpaul before him, Sangakkara proved age was merely a number, as he continued to charge the spinners and drive Kyle Jarvis and Ryan McLaren through the covers with ease. Sangakkara began to take charge of the partnership, while Borthwick favoured powerful sweep shots against the spinners on his way to a maiden ton for his adopted club.
It was the 39-year-old he reached three figures first, once again charging the spinner for his eleventh boundary, completing a 154-ball century. The pair entered tea with a healthy partnership on 189, with the match drifting towards a draw, but for the Surrey duo there was still something to be excited about heading into the final session of the match.
While Borthwick was on the verge of his first hundred for Surrey, the duo were hoping to record the highest third-wicket stand against Lancashire and if they had done so they would have toppled a 130-year-old record worth 305 runs.
One of the milestones the pair were hoping to realise came soon after play resumed, as Borthwick reached a 233-ball ton in his second appearance for the club. Kerrigan looked shocked when he bowled Sangakkara for 136, ending the 256-run partnership with Borthwick and all-but signalling the end of the contest.
There was just enough time for Haseeb Hameed to turn his arm from the Pavilion End of the ground, before the players shook hands on a draw.
| Lancashire 470: Chanderpaul 182, Clark 140; Footitt 5-118 |
| Surrey 319 & 323-3 dec (follow-on): Sangakkara 136, Borthwick 108 not out |
| Match Drawn. Lancashire 13 pts, Surrey 9 pts |
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