Surrey came back strongly

Martin Bicknell broke through Leicestershire's batting by taking five wickets for Surrey in a spell which had the visitors in trouble at 33-6 by the close at Guildford: they were just 63 runs ahead. He followed his seven first-innings wickets by dismissing both openers, Darren Maddy and Iain Sutcliffe, and taking three more wickets in ten balls.

Earlier Leicestershire appeared to have gained a good grip on the game with James Ormond taking six wickets in Surrey's 288 runs total which owed almost everything to Ian Ward (107). Nadeem Shahid (47) and Ward took Surrey from 93-1 with some positive stroke-play but the partnership was broken by leg-spinner Anil Kumble in the last ober before lunch.

Ally Brown, who had plundered the Leicestershire bowling a week ago, was forced to leave the field temporarily after being struck on the left wrist by a ball from Ormond. Yet Surrey pressed on purposefully with Ward and Ben Hollioake putting on 75.

On his return to the crease Brown partnered Ward through to his hundred but the young quick bowler had him caught at the wicket for 34 and in the same over dismissed Bicknell for a duck. Ward fell at last to DeFreitas after batting for 215 balls and hitting 14 fours. Ormond and Kumble then wrapped up the remaining wickets.