In a match that was in many ways billed as a battle of the batsmen - will Ramprakash punish his former employers again, is Scott Newman capable of doing likewise and can Andrew Strauss find some form with the bat ahead of this summer's Tests? - it could well be that Jade Dernbach, who triggered Middlesex's slump from 220-2 to 324 all out yesterday, has made the most decisive contribution. The wicket of Pedro Collins was the 24-year-old's one hundredth in first-class cricket and his 5-68 were his best ever at the Oval. But with Mark Ramprakash, who has also had a say in this contest, following-up his resolute 223 with an entertaining 86 not out from 102 deliveries, the hosts have an imposing 331-run advantage going into the final day.

With Middlesex resuming on 148, Scott Newman, who began day three on 79, moved into the nineties by sweeping Gareth Batty for four and then six. But, in the 43rd over, the former Surrey left-hander prodded at a short ball from Chris Tremlett to be caught behind. Newman's 91 had taken him 154 minutes, 143 deliveries and it included 13 fours and two maximums.

Six overs later, Owais Shah edged a low catch to the wicketkeeper off Andre Nel. After taking his side past 200, primarily by latching on to anything short and wide of his off stump, Andrew Strauss pushed the door ajar by driving Dernbach lazily to Matthew Spriegel at extra cover in the 61st over. Neil Dexter, driving, fell to a catch behind four overs later and with John Simpson going early at a slower ball to be caught at short extra cover, the visitors went to lunch on 237-5.

In the 72nd over, Dawid Malan, sweeping, looped a catch up to Rory Hamilton-Brown running back from slip to leg-slip. Malan was far from happy with umpire Martin Bodenham's decision, however, indicating that he felt the ball hit his left forearm.

Gareth Berg attempted to arrest Middlesex's decline by dancing down pitch and punching Batty over long-off for six in the 80th over, but his colleagues were found wanting by Dernbach, who, after switching to the Vauxhall End, trapped Shaun Udal leg before with a leg-stump yorker in the 82nd over and beat Pedro Collins for pace two overs later; though not before Tim Murtagh, looking to drive Nel through cover point off the back foot, was caught behind for a duck.

Berg found some backing in the shape of Steven Finn. Together, the tenth-wicket pair added 28 in six overs before Berg was caught behind off an inside edge to complete a disappointing response to Surrey's purposeful 490.

Despite spurning the chance to enforce the follow-on, the hosts had manoeuvred themselves into a strong position by stumps thanks to Arun Harinath and Mark Ramprakash's second-wicket partnership of 130 in 28 overs.

Harinath was quick to come down the pitch to Udal and hit him for a straight six, but in the tenth over Laurie Evans was bowled around his legs, attempting to flick Finn down to fine leg. Harinath went to his highest score in the championship with some shrewd sweeps and pulls off the spinners, but his fifty arrived, in the 34th over, when he backed away to make room and punched Berg straight down the ground for four. Harinath's half-century came off 101 balls; though not before Ramprakash, who struck three fours off the first eight balls he received, had progressed to his in just 61 deliveries.

Unfortunately for Surrey, Harinath, looking to work a well-flighted ball through mid-on, was bowled by Shah with four overs to go.

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