With sixteen wickets falling yesterday and Robert Croft producing a captain's innings, what most people had expected to be a weather-affected draw or another Surrey victory might turn out to be a rare success for Glamorgan, even though rain is forecast to descend on London tomorrow.

Since the home side still hold most of the trump cards, Croft's bowlers will need to inspire a batting collapse this morning for parity to be completely restored. But if the manner in which Batty, Ramprakash and Newman's departed last night is an indication of how the Brown Caps will go about their task, the scenario above is not as improbable as it may seem.

Jonathan Batty, who was caught at mid-on off a mistimed pull, and Scott Newman, taken at short leg, both went tamely. Sandwiched in-between was the wicket of Mark Ramprakash, who batted as if he was playing in a one-day game before being defeated by one that David Harrison hurried on.

Earlier in the day, after adding 36 to their overnight score, before being dismissed for 433, the home side soon had the Welshmen under the cosh. At lunch, the visitors' card looked a sorry 61-4. Mark Cosgrove edged Mohammad Akram to the juggling Ian Salisbury at first slip and in the next over David Hemp fell lbw to Azhar Mahmood. Azhar struck again when Michael Powell nicked a drive to second slip, then Neil Saker had Ryan Watkins playing down the wrong line.

Glamorgan's plight showed no sign of improving when Franklin and Grant departed in successive overs shortly after the break. James Franklin threatened briefly with five fours in three overs before he cut loosely at Akram and Richard Grant clipped a low catch to mid-wicket to hand Chris Schofield his first championship wicket in more than two years.

But then a lower-order revival, engineered by Croft, turned 85-6 into 269 all out. The former England off-spinner made an unbeaten 71 off 149 balls, with two sixes and nine fours, forging seventh, eighth and ninth wicket alliances with Wallace, Harrison and Cosker that were worth 45, 59 and 70 respectively.

Mark Wallace was caught behind off a back foot drive. Fifteen overs later Harrison was adjudged leg before, attempting to sweep Nayan Doshi, and all six Surrey bowlers had chipped in when Ian Salisbury claimed the scalp of Dean Cosker, who was caught at slip after offering eighteen overs of resistance to record his highest score this term.

Huw Waters was run out by his skipper fifteen runs short of the follow-on target after being called through for an optimistic single to Ramprakash at short fine leg. But Surrey decided to bat again, which came as something of a surprise given that there were twelve overs remaining in the day and the weather forecast for the second half of the match was looking ominous.

Nevertheless, the home side possess a 269-run advantage.

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