Surrey warhorse Martin Bicknell took six for 42 as the Championship's second-placed side made an excellent start to their meeting with Kent at The Oval.

Seven wickets fell in the afternoon session after Surrey won a crucial toss once play began at 1340 BST on a rain-hit day.

But it was not one-way traffic for Surrey, and after dismissing Kent rather cheaply they too had difficulties, descending to 111 for five at the close of play.

Matthew Fleming (three wickets) and Amjad Khan (two) hit back for Kent, but Ali Brown, unbeaten on 49 with 10 fours to his name, was in no mood to see his side bundled out with a first-innings deficit.

Bicknell was earlier the star of the show as Surrey asserted in good conditions for bowling.

Bicknell, who had managed just 15 wickets in five Championship matches so far this season, returned to form in style, having Kent skipper David Fulton lbw in the third over.

Wickets fell at regular intervals as Bicknell followed up with the scalps of Rob Key and Ed Smith.

And fellow opener Jimmy Ormond snagged Matthew Walker and Andrew Symonds in quick succession, finishing with figures of three for 56.

Ed Giddins got into the act to end the biggest partnership of the innings, having Mark Ealham lbw for 25 after he had added 52 for the sixth wicket with Nixon.

The wicketkeeper reached his third half-century of the season after tea before being caught by Saqlain Mushtaq off Bicknell for 54 to complete the rout.

Surrey: I J Ward (Capt), J N Batty (Wkt), M R Ramprakash, N Shahid A D Brown, R Clarke, M P Bicknell, I D K Salisbury, Saqlain Mushtaq J Ormond, E S H Giddins.

Kent: D P Fulton (Capt), R W T Key, E T Smith, A Symonds M J Walker, M A Ealham, P A Nixon (Wkt), M V Fleming, M M Patel A Khan, M J Saggers.

Umpires: B Dudleston and J F Steele