Ed Smith top scored with 88, whilst Ben Scott hit 61, Ed Joyce reached 60 and Scott Styris hit 55. Ormond and Thornley both took two wickets, whilst there were one each for Harbhajan Singh and Bicknell.

Day 3:

A magnificent unbeaten 152 from Alistair Brown ensured Surrey ended day three with a small lead on first innings, but the derby match is surely now destined for a draw.

Middlesex were indebted to another wholehearted bowling performance from Alan Richardson (6-106), who took his Championship wicket tally to an incredible 38 in only the sixth match of the season. He took the first four wickets to fall before capturing the final two in the first over after tea to give his side a full quota of bonus points.    

The day had started well for Middlesex, who took two wickets in the first half-an-hour to leave their opponents on 181-4. Richardson tempted Richard Clinton (73) to drive outside his off-stump to be snaffled at third slip by Ben Hutton, before Jonathan Batty (45) thrashed wildly at the same bowler and was caught at third man by Paul Weekes.

That was the extent of early inroads into the Surrey batting, however, as Brown and Australian debutant Duncan Thornely added 184 for the fifth wicket. Both batsmen showed impressive technique in compiling a rapid partnership which threatened to take Surrey well beyond Middlesex’s total of 437, until a Scott Styris cutter kept low and gave Thornely (81) little chance.

Nonetheless, Martin Bicknell provided a useful partner to Brown before, having already twice evaded the slip cordon with an edge and attempted pull, he was trapped lbw by an unlikely source. Ed Joyce was the eighth bowler used by Hutton, and although Bicknell looked slightly unlucky to be given, it importantly gave Middlesex their second bowling point.

With Ramprakash still nursing a bruised thumb after being struck by Chris Wright the previous day, Surrey were effectively seven down and still nine runs behind. They had changed that equation to a lead of ten when Paul Weekes had Tim Murtagh pouched by Joyce at mid-wicket, and immediately after tea Richardson cleaned up the remaining wickets. James Ormond played on to knock back off stump and, from his first ball, Harbhajan Singh could only fend a superb short delivery from Richardson to short leg running back.

All out for 460, Surrey led by 23 with 29 overs still remaining in the day. However, bad light which had curtailed day two by 18 overs returned just as Ben Hutton and Ed Smith made their way to the middle, and with no further play possible it would seem that by far the likeliest outcome to the match is now a maximum point draw.

Day 2:

A composed half century from Richard Clinton, together with some good support from Jonathan Batty helped Surrey build a good foundation as they closed on 157-2 in response to Middlesex's total 0f 437.

In what was a good morning session for the 'sex, Irfan Pathan and Ben Scott survived through thick and thin to both record vital half centuries, with Pathan scoring a career best 68 before he tried one ambitious shot too many and with a little help from his pads was bowled by fellow indian Harbajhan Singh. Scott, in contrast, composed a slow innings as rode his luck a little, but his unbeaten 64 saw the home side past the 400 mark to obtain an all important fifth batting point.

The 'sex were eventually bowled out just before lunch, with Alan Richardson the last man out for an entertaining 19. It was then Richardson again who provided much of the movement with the ball as he dismissed Scott Newman and Graham Thorpe cheaply, either side of Mark Runsforcash being forced to retire hurt with a suspected broken thumb. Shame.

Bad light eventually brought a premature end to the day's proceedings, with Surrey 157-2 and in a good position to make a respectable reply to Middlesex's total pf 437

Day 1:

Middlesex compiled a largely watchful 319-7 after a seesaw opening day to their Championship derby match against Surrey at Lord’s.

After adding 100 for the first wicket, the hosts found themselves in some bother at 148-5 before important contributions from Jamie Dalrymple (77), Paul Weekes (39) and Irfan Pathan (33 not out) steadied the ship

In front of the Sky cameras, Middlesex looked to make the most of winning the toss under clear blue sky, yet they had their fair share of fortune in reaching the lunch interval without loss. Ed Smith and Ben Hutton both survived leg before shouts and balls flew over and through the slip cordon as Surrey’s bowlers sought but failed to exploit a reasonable amount of movement off the pitch.

At 89-0, Middlesex had enjoyed the perfect morning session but, with Smith having just brought up his half-century and the hundred partnership in the same over, Hutton (44) left one that straightened from Martin Bicknell and saw his stumps broken.

Bicknell was particularly impressive immediately after lunch and he soon got Owais Shah to feather a delivery that moved a little and send him back to the pavilion without scoring. Worse was to follow when an excellent spell from Tim Murtagh was rewarded with the important scalp of Smith (60), and at 118-3 Surrey had gone a long way towards ruining Middlesex’s morning work.

Not long after, Scott Styris (8) was trapped in front by James Ormond before the in-form Ed Joyce (24) was despatched in the same fashion, although television replays seemed to show that umpire Steele had missed the inside edge that Joyce had got into his pads.

Repair work was of the essence and, sometimes with luck on their side, Dalrymple and Weekes managed to manoeuvre their side into a position of respectability, at 217-5 at tea.

Both batsmen came out in positive mode after the resumption but Weekes, looking to force Ormond away off the back foot, paid for his aggressive style as he played on. However, Dalrymple, joined by Pathan, continued to keep the fielders busy and he had just struck an exquisite boundary through wide mid-on off Harbhajan Singh when, on 77, he perished looking to hit the Indian spinner into the Mound stand. Scott Newman took a tricky catch running backwards off Dalrymple’s top edged sweep.

Ben Scott was able to keep Pathan company by coming through the new ball spells of Bicknell and Murtagh unscathed, and at 319-7 the hosts will look to advance their first innings beyond 350 tomorrow morning. In truth, Bicknell in particular enjoyed little luck and saw batsmen play and miss against him all day, and there was enough in the pitch to keep bowlers interested throughout.

Please click here for the scorecard for this match

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