Middlesex under pressure at The Oval

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County Championship Division One, The Oval

Close, day two: Surrey 144 & 86-1, Middlesex 232

Surrey recovered from a poor first innings to trail by only two runs at stumps on day two at The Oval.

Middlesex started the day in a strong position, 45 runs behind their opponents and just a wicket down in reply, but the overcast conditions allowed Surrey to stop them building a sizeable lead.

Former India spinner Murali Kartik took 5-69 as Middlesex were eventually finished off for 232 and a 98-run lead.

And Surrey were able to recoup most of that with only one loss of their own before stumps, after Toby Roland-Jones dismissed Zafar Ansari for a duck in the fourth over.

England one-day star Jade Dernbach ended any prospect of Sam Robson extending his 29 from the night before by trapping him lbw with the fourth ball of the day.

Tim Linley then struck to send Joe Denly back to the pavilion for 17, while youngster Tim Smith nudged his way to 31.

But Kartik came in to generate some turn from the rough and Smith was soon sent packing before Dawid Malan followed in Kartik’s next over.

When Neil Dexter became Kartik’s next victim for only five runs, 186-6 turned into 188-9 with Gareth Batty disposing of Andrew Balbirnie and Steven Crook in back-to-back deliveries, and Katik taking fellow debutant Adam Rossington.

And it was all wrapped up by Katik after a late stand of 50 between Roland-Jones and Tim Murtagh (pictured above).

Like Middlesex the night before, Surrey made perfect use of the 32 overs after tea and suffered just the single loss of Ansari.

Opener Rory Burns reached stumps 40 not out with Arun Harinath on an unbeaten 39.

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