With a slender lead of forty and a tail that has let them down once already in this match, Surrey's recognised batsmen will need to remain steadfast going into the final day, even with seven second innings wickets in tact and conditions generally in their favour still. Derbyshire, who have been in control ever since Chris Taylor joined Michael Di Venuto on the first morning, do not get into many winning positions - indeed they have only scored four championship victories in the last three seasons - so the prospect of posting their first success at The Oval since 1966 can be no bigger incentive than to aim for the jugular this morning.

After the first five-wicket haul of Mo Sheikh's Derbyshire career had precipitated Surrey's first innings subsidence from 256-4 overnight to 308 all out, the hosts found themselves following on to Derbyshire for the first time in seventeen years. Needing to make 184 in order to avoid conceding their ever first defeat by an innings to Derbyshire at The Oval, Scott Newman and Jonathan Batty could not have got their side's second dig off to a better start. The pair put on 152 in 46 overs, yet both perished within sight of what would have been deserved centuries.

Newman was closing in on his first three-figure score since last June when he played back to Ant Botha, got a bottom edge and the ball trickled on to his stumps. He finished with a responsible and, at times, entertaining 90 off 145 balls, which included a six over long-on off his eventual eradicator.

Moments later, Batty nearly joined his opening partner in the dressing room, when he was put down at cover by Hassan Adnan off the bowling of Hunter on 52. But, in company with Mark Ramprakash, a further thirteen overs were negotiated safely. However, Ramprakash, who has only ever scored one century against Derbyshire, then played away from his body and dragged on a relatively innocuous delivery from Steffan Jones.

Batty ensured the visitors would need to bat again if they are to win this match when he swept Botha for four in the next over. But when he tried to pull Ian Hunter from outside off stump, he was castled off a bottom edge. His 275-minute occupation was finally worth 96 from 210 deliveries, and included two sixes straight down the ground off Ant Botha's slow left-arm twirlers.

Earlier in the day Azhar Mahmood became the first of Sheikh's four victims, though not before the former Pakistan all-rounder went past 5,000 first-class runs. Ten minutes later Rikki Clarke was caught at gully for a 91-ball 59. After Salisbury was caught at slip, swiping, Surrey's first innings fell away. Alistair Brown, who showed no obvious signs of discomfort following the shoulder injury he picked up on Wednesday, was accounted for at second slip. Jimmy Ormond went for a duck and Mohammad Akram was bowled aiming an optimistic heave at Sheikh, whose final spell read 10.5-5-25-4.

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