An unexpected last-wicket stand of 130 between Sean Abbott and Dan Worrall and some aggressive bowling by their seamers helped to put first division leaders Surrey in a good position against Lancashire at the Kia Oval.
Abbott and no.11 Worrall both made entertaining half-centuries as Surrey scored 360 to establish a first-innings lead of 86.
Abbott and Worrall then struck in successive overs as Lancashire lost three wickets clearing their arrears. They reached stumps on 113 for four, a lead of 26.
The day and perhaps the outcome of the match may have been shaped in the 75 minutes or so after lunch when Abbott and Worrall came together with Surrey 230 for nine and proceeded to score at a run a ball for the next 21 overs and demoralise Lancashire.
Worrall pulled Daryl Mitchell for six to put Surrey in front during an over in which they took 24 off the New Zealand all-rounder. The fifty partnership took just 35 balls before Abbott reached his half-century with a straight six off Jack Blatherwick.
Lancashire had their chances though. Abbott was badly dropped by Tom Bailey at backward point off a reverse sweep on 55 and added another ten before Keaton Jennings shelled a more difficult chance in the covers.
While Abbott is a very handy lower-order batter – this was the 15th fifty of his first-class career – Worrall had only scored one half-century in his previous 112 first-class innings. But the 33-year-old from Melbourne was rarely troubled as he brought up his second career fifty from just 56 balls with five fours and a six.
Abbott hit the ball cleanly and at times a long way, clearing the ropes five times in his 87 from 69 before the stand ended rather tamely with Worrall run out by Josh Bohannon after a mix-up for a career-best 51.
Surrey had started the second day 70 for four and lost their fifth wicket on 108 when Jamie Smith was superbly caught diving forward by Jack Morley running in from the mid-wicket boundary.
He wasn’t the only batter guilty of a loose shot. Will Jacks and Sam Curran seemed to have seized the initiative in an entertaining stand of 103 off 97 balls for the sixth wicket when Surrey lost two in two in identical fashion as first Jacks (64) and then Jordan Clark tamely clipped deliveries from Mitchell to mid-wicket.
The morning session produced 145 runs with Curran scoring 52 off 51 until he departed in the second over after lunch to a mis-timed pull when Tom Bailey dropped short but well outside off stump. When Tom Lawes padded up to Will Williams, Lancashire had picked up four for 20 in 4.5 overs and appeared to be taking control, but not for the first time in the LV= County Championship this season Surrey wrested back the initiative.
Curran got the Kookaburra ball to swing nicely, making the breakthrough when he shaped one away to take Jennings’ edge and Tom Latham held on at second slip.
Luke Wells and Bohannon added 59 for the second wicket but, just when it appeared Lancashire were in calmer waters, they were rocked by the loss of both in six balls. Worrall returned to the attack and Bohannon mis-timed a hook, with Ben Foakes sprinting forward to take the catch after a full-length dive. Wells then cut hard at Abbott in the next over and Latham clung on instinctively in front of his face at gully and just before the close Dane Vilas was pinned in front by Clark.
