LV COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO, The Oval:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY THREE: Surrey 490 and 165-2, Middlesex 324
Surrey 7 pts, Middlesex 5 pts
Match scorecard

Surrey bowler Andre Nel celebrates with his team-mates after taking the wicket of Middlesex's Tim Murtagh at Lord's

Paceman Jade Dernbach produced a five-wicket haul at Lord's to put Surrey in control in the London derby at Lord's.

Dernbach (5-68) returned his best figures of the season as Middlesex were all out for 324 in their first innings.

The home side had begun the day on 148 without loss, but neither Andrew Strauss (92) and Scott Newman (91) could go on and post three figures.

Surrey closed the day on 165-2, with a lead of 331, thanks to Mark Ramprakash (86 not out) and Arun Harinath (63).

At the start of the day Strauss, who had resumed on 54, off-spinner Gareth Batty had him dropped at slip by Rory Hamilton-Brown on 57.

The England captain then moved comfortably enough to 92 - despite seeing the early losses of opening partner Newman and Owais Shah.

But just when a century looked likely, Dernbach denied him the feat at the start of a spell which could yet prove decisive.

Strauss tried to drive him on the up but hit the ball straight to short extra cover.

The Middlesex innings then declined alarmingly, wickets falling at regular intervals, as Dernbach also got rid of Neil Dexter, John Simpson, Shaun Udal and Pedro Collins.

Only Gareth Berg made any impact after the departures of Strauss and Newman, ending unbeaten on 45.

But Middlesex's slide has left them with a fight on their hands to rescue a draw on the final day.

Having chosen not to enforce the follow on, with the lead in excess of 300, Surrey will now aim to bowl Middlesex out again on the final day, as they seek a first Championship victory of the season.

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