That all three outcomes are still possible owes much to Leicestershire's H.D.Ackerman and Darren Maddy banishing all thoughts of possible failure to put on an unbeaten 53 in thirteen overs as play drew to a close last night. It came after Mark Butcher - who looked back in top form at long last - repaired the damage caused by David Masters by combining with Tim Murtagh to clock up an undefeated 100-run partnership for the visitors' eighth wicket. That presented the Foxes with a target of 414 for victory, something only Kent have ever bettered, batting fourth, to register a championship win against the Brown Caps.

Following a highly productive morning session for the visitors, Surrey lost four wickets for five runs in the space of 16 balls, with Masters claiming three wickets in eight, to leave them 161 for six; ahead by 287.

Jonathan Batty exploited the width presented to him by the Leicestershire seamers, forcing off the back foot as well as cutting the ball to the cover point boundary. It took a superb example of reverse swing from Maddy in the 31st over to account for the former Surrey captain, who has batted with renewed confidence since returning to the top of the order in the championship.

Scott Newman, who reeled off a number of powerfully struck cover and straight drives, slog swept Henderson for six in his eye-catching 75 from 105 balls. But shortly after lunch Mohammad Asif, operating round the wicket, dug one in and the 26-year-old left-hander got a thin edge on an attempted hook stroke.

Shortly after Butcher came to the crease his side went into freefall. Mark Ramprakash was bowled by one that skidded through. Alistair Brown went first ball when Masters got one to nip back sharply. Rikki Clarke was caught at the second attempt by Paul Nixon, who was standing up, and Azhar Mahmood had his middle stump disturbed by a gem of an inswinging delivery from his fellow countryman, Asif. Eight overs later Ian Salisbury departed leg before playing across the line to Stuart Broad, who went for nearly seven an over yesterday.

Butcher, advancing on the spinners and hitting them straight for four, dominated his alliance with Murtagh, making 85 in 131 deliveries to register his highest score in the County Championship for almost two years. But Murtagh also got in on the act when he clubbed Jeremy Snape to the square leg boundary for four.

After Darren Robinson, half forward, was adjudged leg before in the eighth over of Leicestershire's second innings, Nayan Doshi was introduced to the Surrey attack, but, dropping short, had little success, particularly against Ackerman, who also cut the penultimate ball of the day's play to post the fifty partnership for the second wicket.

With nine wickets still intact, Leicestershire now need an attainable 340 more runs for victory.

GO TO:

BACK TO: