Knight guides Warwickshire to safety

Surrey 225 and 45 for 1 trail Warwickshire 338 (Knight 117, Loudon 60, Powell 60, Saqlain 4-80) by 68 runs
Scorecard
Points Table

While the nation's attention was elsewhere - as was that of the few who had turned up at Edgbaston - Warwickshire secured the bonus points which ended the mathematical possibility that they could be relegated, and left Surrey and Middlesex to go head-to-head to escape the drop at The Oval in eight days time - assuming that Surrey avoid defeat in this match.

Surrey's bowling in the morning underlined why they find themselves in danger of the drop, although Jade Dernbach's opening burst promised more. Dernbach, a 19-year-old European-qualified South African, bowled Ian Westwood and Jonathan Trott with full-length balls, but it was a false dawn.

Warwickshire feasted on their waywardness, Nick Knight completing his second hundred in three matches (and passing 1000 runs for the season) and Alex Loudon and Michael Powell chipping in with a brace of 60s. Surrey did find some penetration after tea, Saqlain benefiting as Warwickshire lost quick wickets, but they still finished with a first-innings lead of 113.

By ensuring their safety, Warwickshire softened the blow of the news that they would be without Makhaya Ntini for the rest of the season after the South African board insisted he return home to play in a benefit match.