Rain forces draw at Scarborough

Championship leaders Surrey were left with a minimum of only 32 overs in which to attempt to bowl out Yorkshire when conditions improved sufficiently at Scarborough for a start to be made at 4.00pm on the final day of a match in which feelings ran high after Yorkshire had been docked eight points for preparing a 'poor' pitch.

Surrey's declaration at their overnight 89 for three left Yorkshire to make an improbable 288 for victory but fears of a collapse similar to the first innings quickly subsided as young openers Simon Widdup and Vic Craven made confident progress against the pace of Alex Tudor and Ben Hollioake.

Surrey posted four slips and two gulleys in the first few overs but Widdup and Craven still managed to score runs in front of the wicket and the pair were largely unconcerned when spinners Saqlain Mustaq and Ian Salisbury entered the attack, Widdup twice in one over hammering boundaries off Salisbury to raise the 50.

When Widdup had reached 32, he was bowled aiming a sweep at Saqlain only to see no-ball signalled and when the sides called it a day, Yorkshire had reached 68 without loss, Widdup leading the way with 38 to Craven's 17.

Yorkshire squeezed seven points out of the game - one less than they started with - but Surrey were left to ponder over whether they would have stood a better chance of forcing a win if they had enforced the follow on instead of deciding to add to their first innings lead of 198.

Surrey's 11 points increased their lead over second placed Lancashire to 19 points and they now appear odds-on favourites to retain the Championship - although the two teams will clash in the final round of matches.

Yorkshire can still occupy the runners-up spot but their cause has been damaged by the loss of eight points.