Former England batsman Ian Ward was Surrey's match-winner for the second successive game as Yorkshire were pushed closer to the relegation trap-door.

Ward followed his unbeaten 168 on the final day against Kent with an innings of 124 not out as the home side reached their target before lunch.

The left-handed opener now has 961 Championship runs for the season, carrying him above Mark Ramprakash as Surrey's leading scorer.

Yorkshire needed early wickets with Surrey starting out on 110 for three, just 127 short of their victory target.

But they were frustrated by night-watchman Ian Salisbury, who kept Ward company in a fourth wicket stand worth exactly 100.

Salisbury hit a six and 10 fours in making 59 off 70 balls before he was caught behind off Yorkshire skipper Darren Lehmann with the total on 209.

Ali Brown was content to play a supporting role over the closing overs as Ward saw Surrey home, an innings which lasted four hours and 22 minutes in all and included 21 boundaries.

It was their sixth victory of the season and leaves them clear favourites to regain the title they won in 1999 and 2000.

Surrey: AJ Hollioake (capt), IJ Ward, JN Batty (wkt), MR Ramprakash, R Clarke, AD Brown, Saqlain Mushtaq, IDK Salisbury, J Ormond, ESH Giddins.

Yorkshire: DS Lehmann (capt), MJ Wood, A McGrath, MJ Lumb, VJ Craven, GM Fellows, RJ Blakey, RKJ Dawson, CEW Silverwood, AKD Gray, RJ Sidebottom, DH Wigley.