Needing 330 to avoid being asked to follow-on by Surrey, Kent are 181 for five and their hopes of saving this match now appear to rest with Robert Key, who stood firm while five of his partners were caught behind, four of them off the bowling of Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood. The former England batsman, who has done his case for a recall to the international fold no harm at all by making 699 first-class runs in ten innings this summer, ended day two unbeaten on 78 – the result of three and three quarter hours of tempered resistance.

Batting looked a breeze when the Kent openers put fifty on the board inside fifteen overs. But five overs later, with the score seemingly stuck on 52, Azhar found the outside edge of David Fulton’s bat. As he walked back to the dressing room, however, the Kent captain looked far from impressed when Barry Leadbeater’s adjudication.

Having gone to tea at 71-1 the visitors lost Ed Smith soon after the break to give Mahmood first spell figures of 10-5-31-2. A lull in proceedings then ensued. Matthew Walker took 41 balls over seven runs before more than doubling his score with successive boundaries off Bicknell – the first driven straight down the ground and the second cut through point.

Key took 140 deliveries over his half-century, which the 25-year-old posted with the second of two straight fours in the first over of Zaheer Khan’s disappointing comeback stint.

Azhar Mahmood’s return to the fold was all together more fruitful. His fifth ball, which was practically unplayable, produced the wicket of Walker and eight overs later Michael Carberry was taken down the leg-side as, once again, “c Batty b Azhar” described the mode of dismissal. The loss of nightwatchman Martin Saggers in the final over of the day capped a polished performance from the home side who could boast that they “won” all three sessions for the first time this summer.

The second day began with the Surrey centurions matching each other run for run, but almost as soon as Jonathan Batty got his nose in front, he pulled a ball that was barely short of a length and presented square leg with an easy catch. He had made 129 off 194 balls, including 21 fours.

Thirteen overs later Mark Ramprakash’s first false stroke – a bottom edge to fine leg – brought him his 150 in 281 deliveries, but Mohammad Sami’s decision to swap ends was rewarded with the wicket of the former Middlesex man, who dragged a ball angled across on to his off stump.

When operating round the wicket the Pakistani looked a fearsome prospect and Alistair Brown was forced to duck underneath numerous bouncers. However, Sami was eventually assuaged by his international team-mate Azhar Mahmood, who took three boundaries off him in the space of four balls to earn his side maximum batting points.

If judged by recent performances Brown might be considered a spent force, but in the last five days he has made back to back championship half-centuries. His 79 in 147 minutes yesterday, after seeing off the second new ball, hinted that the Ovalites’ favourite is back somewhere close to his best. The 34-year-old reached his fifty in 95 deliveries and could well have gone on to a hundred had he not run out of partners, starting with Adam Hollioake who was leg before to Amjad Khan.

In the first over after lunch Azhar was bowled trying to make room. Martin Bicknell’s innings contained just one scoring stroke, a lofted straight drive off Rob Ferley, which went for six. Brown’s only maximum came in the next over from a top-edged pull. But before any more could be added Bicknell swept the spinner to square leg’s left. Brown was stumped in the quest for quick runs and Jimmy Ormond, flashing at a rising delivery, was caught behind.

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