Saqlain trumps Muralitharan but game remains evenly poised

A fluctuating day's cricket left the crucial CricInfo Championship game between Surrey and Lancashire at The AMP Oval evenly-poised at stumps on the second day.

Surrey had time to face one over at the end of the day as they began their second innings 28 runs in arrears after fighting back throughout the afternoon; possibly a vital contribution with the pitch taking spin and the world's best off-spinners on either side.

Lancashire had begun the day in determined mood in reply to Surrey's first innings total of 248. They reached lunch on 82 without loss after 29 overs in a rain truncated morning session.

With Tudor and Bicknell bowling to an aggressive field of four slips and a gully, the Lancashire openers concentrated on survival, but grew in confidence as the partnership wore in.

First to go was Jamie Haynes. Having justified his inclusion in the side in the absence of Atherton (on England duty) and Chiltern (injured), the former second team 'keeper played back to Saqlain and was given out lbw having completed his second first-class half-century.

It was a crucial breakthrough. The opening stand between Haynes and his captain, John Crawley, had yielded 100 but Surrey soon struck again. Crawley misjudged a Bicknell delivery and was dismissed lbw shouldering arms, while Fairbrother swept Saqlain to Ramprakash at deep square leg.

Scuderi was deceived by the infamous Saqlain mystery ball and could only top-edge the ball to gully and Graham Lloyd could not keep down a short ball from the swift Tudor.

Andrew Flintoff was in forthright mood, and benefited from a let off when Butcher put him down at slip off Tudor. Eight cracking boundaries followed before Butcher made amends as Flintoff snicked another ball from Tudor.

Warren Hegg proved to be more obdurate. His 74 not out helped guide the tail into vital partnerships that eventually earned a lead of 28 runs. He hit three boundaries in a row off Bicknell and reiterated his worth to Lancashire following his recent century at Northampton.

No-one else could find an answer to Saqlain who finished with 6-89, trumping Muralitharan, who took five wickets in the Surrey innings.

Afterwards John Crawley admitted that the game was evenly poised and suggested that both teams should have scored more runs.

"Having won the toss they would have hoped for more runs but at 110 for no wicket we would have hoped for the same," Crawley reasoned.

"It's the kind of wicket if you get one or two then a few more follow but if you get in on it there are runs to be had. The pitch is a good four-day pitch, there is a bit in it for everyone but the spinners have had to work for their reward.

"If it continues to play well and it doesn't disintegrate we would be hopeful of scoring somewhere around 240 on the final day. Our game plan for tomorrow is to attack them early on and see if we can bowl them out cheaply."