Surrey take initiative in crunch match against Yorkshire

Champions Surrey gradually tightened the screw on Division One leaders Yorkshire at Headingley after bowling them out for 206 to establish a valuable first innings lead of 72.

They then batted with great care in their second innings to close the second day on 171 for four to leave them a healthy 243 runs in front.

The seam of Martin Bicknell and Ed Giddins and the spin of Saqlain Mushtaq caused Yorkshire all sorts of problems after they had begun the day on 61 for two and only Darren Lehmann batted with any great confidence.

The Australian held the innings together while making a solid 52 off 91 balls with six fours but he was then bowled attempting to hit Saqlain over the top of mid-on.

Gary Fellows and Gavin Hamilton fell to Giddins and Bicknell respectively after getting into the 20s and it was left to the last wicket pair of Ryan Sidebottom and Steven Kirby to see Yorkshire to their solitary batting bonus point.

In overcast and humid conditions, Jon Batty and Michael Carberry gave Surrey a careful start before Batty was trapped lbw by Sidebottom at 25 but Carberry and Nadeem Shahid continued to put Surrey in charge with a second wicket stand of 65.

Off-spinner Richard Dawson then enjoyed the best spell of his career as he had Shahid well caught at short mid-on by Lehmann for 33 and in his next over he flung himself to his left to take a return catch from skipper Adam Hollioake before he had scored.

Carberry went on holding up Yorkshire until he was pinned back on his stumps and dismissed lbw by Dawson but Alistair Brown and Ben Hollioake kept each other company until the close, defying deteriorating light to put on 42.

Brown ended on 42 and Ben Hollioake 23 while Dawson took three for 56 in 20 overs broken only by the tea interval.