ESSEX’S Dan Lawrence warmed up for the England Lions clash with South Africa A this week by hitting a century against Surrey.

Lawrence has been called up for the Lions squad.

And his impressive 107 was a big reason for Essex taking a 14 run lead ahead of Surrey’s second innings.

Surrey reached 55/1 at the close of play on day three of the County Championship clash.

But Lawrence was pleased to score his second century of the season.

Lawrence said: “It wasn’t my most fluent innings, it was quite scratchy, but it was nice to get another hundred.

“Both centuries this season have been fairly gritty, but I’m just happy to score the runs.

“I’m in some decent form. We’ve got three one-dayers with the Lions. I’ve got to get selected in that team first and then see what happens then. But I’m excited.

“I’ll give it a go and hopefully I can make my presence felt in the team and score some good runs.”

Lawrence laid the foundation for Essex’s 383 before he was out for 107 from 208 balls.

Ryan ten Doeschate and Neil Wagner also hit half-centuries.

Lawrence and Ravi Bopara had taken Essex’s fourth-wicket stand to 106 in the morning before Tom Curran got the second new-ball to cut back and take out Bopara’s off-stump.

Lawrence accelerated through the nineties with two fours clipped through mid-on off Ravi Rampaul, the second going along the ground and right through Tom Curran’s hands, before a single took him to 99. A controlled angled shot through gulley off the same bowler brought up his three-figures from 199 balls with 15 fours.

However, Lawrence went eight balls later, in Stuart Meaker’s second over of the day, moving early across his stumps and being rapped on his back-pad.

Ten Doeschate and James Foster put on an entertaining 49-run partnership for the sixth wicket, But Amar Virdi bowled Foster through the gate and with the final delivery of the over interrupted by the break, he tossed one up to Simon Harmer, who over-stretched and was stumped by Ben Foakes.

Coming around the wicket, Virdi had the ten Doeschate pinned right in front for 53.

Wagner reached his first fifty for Essex, the seventh of his career, by fending a short-pitch ball from Rampaul past the slips to the boundary. But he departed in the same over, caught at slip by Kumar Sangakkara. The innings ended without a run added when Matt Quinn was clean-bowled by Meaker, who finished with three for 73.

Surrey were aided by two early dropped catches in their second innings, both off Jamie Porter.

But Mark Stoneman finally went for 28, after the opening pair had put on 50 in 12 overs, when Alastair Cook took him low down to his left to give Wagner his first wicket of the match.

Surrey closed on 55/1 and will resume on day four 41 runs ahead.