LIAM Dawson targeted a sixth successive 40-over win at Surrey (1.45pm today) after celebrating the award of his county cap with a match-winning innings.

The 23-year-old rescued Hampshire after they slipped to 78-4 against the Scottish Saltires, securing victory with 15 balls to spare, with an unbeaten 54.

He said: “It was pretty convincing in the end, there was a bit of a stutter in that middle period and we were in a bit of strife when I walked into bat, but we managed to see it through.

“We bat a long way down so if we do get in sticky situations we’re able to get ourselves out of it. Scotland thrive on early wickets, getting on top of you and then squeezing you in the middle but we managed to grind a result out. It shows we’re a very good team.”

Hampshire today face the toughest test yet of their defence of the Yorkshire Bank 40 title.

“If we play good cricket against Scotland we should win every time but Surrey’s a massive game and three from three would be a massive statement,” continued Dawson.

“A lot of teams are going to fear us, we’ve got as good a chance as anyone of winning the competition again especially as we’ve still got [Dimi] Mascarenhas and [Neil] McKenzie to come back.

Six years since making his first-class debut, Dawson described the award of his county cap before play began - alongside David Balcombe and James Vince - as a “privilege”.

He added: “It was a special moment and thanks to Hampshire for giving it to me.

“I didn’t know it was coming but it was a nice surprise and I was very honoured - it’s something you want as a domestic cricketer.”

Surrey's squad includes captain Graeme Smith, while highly-rated young fast bowling all-rounder Tom Curran, has been named in a Brown Caps' squad for the first time.

Surrey: Smith, Davies, Roy, Solanki, Wilson, De Bruyn, Ansari, Batty, Jewell, Curran, Keedy, Dernbach, Lewis, Linley.