With Stuart Meaker taking three wickets in 14 balls shortly before bad light brought a premature end to day two, Surrey, who at one stage appeared to be on course for defeat, now have a chance of turning this contest back in their favour. But, in order to do so, the Oval outfit will have to bat a lot better second time around.

Under low cloud that persisted for most of the day, conditions ideal for seam bowling, Gloucestershire took control early on by claiming eight wickets in the morning session. It may yet be the case that Jon Lewis altered the course of this match when he plucked out Mark Ramprakash's middle stump.

The hosts slumped from 99-2 to 141-9 in the hour leading up to lunch, starting with Ramprakash's demise. Lewis's other successes arrived courtesy of catches behind the wicket by Jonathan Batty. But it would be unfair to overplay Lewis's performance for Surrey were undone by a collective effort on the part of the Gloucestershire seamers.

Chris Tremlett, who came in as nightwatchman when Gareth Batty was dismissed on the first evening, was clean bowled by the fourth ball of the day; thus giving Gemaal Hussain a second scalp.

Surrey's third wicket pair of Harinath and Ramprakash then put on 43 in good time. Other than when Arun Harinath was dropped, on 30, at second slip off Hussain, there was little to suggest that the hosts would fail to record a batting point at the Brit Oval for the first time in over a year.

Five overs after Ramprakash had departed the scene, Harinath was caught behind off James Franklin. The 23-year-old's capricious innings found due context when no one else managed to reach forty.

Rory Hamilton-Brown was the next to go, shouldering arms to pick up a five-ball duck. Usman Afzaal became Steve Kirby's 250th first-class victim since joining Gloucestershire in 2005 when the former England left-hander had his off and middle stumps parted two overs later.

Schofield and Meaker went in almost identical fashion, drawn into playing deliveries that swung just enough to clip the outside edge, but there was no excuse for Rao Iftikhar Anjum's tragic and almost comical end - run out attempting to steal a third run to wide long-on.

After lunch Steven Davies and Jade Dernbach combined for what may yet prove to be a significant 37-run stand for Surrey's tenth wicket. After finally running out of partners Davies, who deposited Lewis and Hussain over the rope at mid-wicket for sixes, finished with an unbeaten 23.

Building on a first innings lead of 51, Gloucestershire got their second dig off to a reasonable start. Shortly before tea the visitors were 137 runs ahead with eight wickets intact, but with Iftikhar and Tremlett striking with successive deliveries and Meaker coming back to account for Chris Taylor, beaten for pace, Steve Snell, caught at first slip taking evasive action, and Jon Lewis, this clash could now go either way.

In the 11th over, Chris Dent became Meaker's first victim, when the 19-year-old left-hander was leg before for the second time in the match. Five overs later, Dernbach had Hamish Marshall caught in front of first slip by Davies.

For the next nine overs Alex Gidman, who pulled Dernbach for six, and Jonathan Batty appeared to be taking the game away from Surrey. But then Iftikhar had the Gloucestershire skipper playing around his front pad.

Jonathan Batty, eager to prove a point after being deemed surplus to requirements by Surrey at the end of last season, made a composed 31 before he was pinned on the crease by Tremlett in the very next over.

GO TO:

BACK TO: