Surrey, sick of the sight of Martin van Jaarsveld when he was compiling what could prove to be a match-turning 114 not out, will be thoroughly fed up with the 34-year-old South African should Kent go on to win this intriguing match on the back of his career best 5-33, which reduced the Brown Caps to 130 in their second dig. Going into the final day, the hop county need another 92 runs for victory with five wickets in hand, including that of van Jaarsveld, who has an unbeaten 70 off 107 deliveries.

After driving Abdul Razzaq straight up the ground for four off the first ball of the day, van Jaarsveld moved to his second championship century of the season, which took him 142 deliveries. In the next over Ryan McLaren was caught at slip off a rising delivery from Saqlain Mushtaq and six overs later Saqlain got past the defences of Martin Saggers. With Robbie Joseph departing LBW moments later Surrey had what appeared to be a crucial first innings lead of 127.

With Scott Newman cutting and pulling the Brown Caps rapidly extended their advantage to 177. But, from being 50 without loss, the home side collapsed to 130 all out in less than forty overs with van Jaarsveld and James Tredwell sharing the spoils.

The breakthrough came in South African's first over, the tenth of the innings, when Matthew Spriegel trod on his stumps in the act of working the ball to leg. An inexplicably poor shot from Mark Ramprakash then made it 54-2 as the Surrey captain was caught by McLaren at mid-wicket off a lazy slap for his first golden duck in four years.

Newman moved rapidly to his half-century in 66 deliveries, which he brought up with a flicked single off Tredwell just before lunch, though not before losing Jonathan Batty, who was bowled by one that turned square from outside his off stump, and Usman Afzaal, feathering behind next ball to make it 65-4.

Following the interval Alistair Brown, in two minds, was caught and bowled by van Jaarsveld and Razzaq was LBW playing back and offering no stroke. Newman then on and straight drove Tredwell for two sixes, but in the 28th over was pinned on the crease by one that skidded on.

Once Chris Schofield went playing loosely at a quick delivery from Yasir Arafat, for 20 off 49 balls, playing loosely at a quick ball from Yasir Arafat, it was not long before the visitors were setting off in pursuit of 258.

With Rob Key, driving, being bowled off an inside edge in the second over, Tredwell departing in the same fashion as in the first innings and Joe Denly fending Pedro Collins to second slip, Kent were tottering on 28-3 in the ninth over. But then a stand of 95 between van Jaarsveld and Darren Stevens swung things back towards the Spitfires.

In the 22nd over Stevens hit Schofield for three consecutive boundaries and two overs later the former Leicestershire man went to his fifty off just 48 balls. But in Saqlain's sixth over Stevens lost his balance slightly and was stumped.

Van Jaarsveld immediately went on the offensive, bringing up his half-century with the first of two successive fours off Collins in the 33rd over. But with Justin Kemp flicking Saqlain to forward short leg late in the day the game was tantalisingly poised at stumps.

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