Barring torrential rain, Somerset should go top of Division One in the LV County Championship today with Surrey's tail most likely succumbing in the same fashion as most of their top order to leave the visitors facing an undemanding victory target. Other than Scott Newman's 91 and Jade Dernbach's career best 6-72 there was nothing positive one could say about the Brown Caps yesterday. It did not help that their captain Mark Butcher was only available to bat in an emergency. But when the home side slumped from 112-1 to 165-6 in their second innings a state of emergency had most definitely been reached. Things then got even worse for Surrey as Butcher was run out following an almost predictable muddle with his runner Matt Spriegel.

When the third day began it was vital to the Brown Caps' chances that they made short work of the visitors' six remaining first innings wickets. Encouragingly, Saqlain Mushtaq trapped Justin Langer leg before with the sixth ball of the day, which skidded on to the Somerset skipper. But then Ian Blackwell and Craig Kieswetter saw off the next 23 overs almost without mishap. They added 103 for the sixth wicket, during which time their alliance was only threatened when Blackwell, on 136, lobbed Pedro Collins up to mid-off where Dernbach, back-peddling, only managed to get his fingertips to the ball. Collins sank to his knees almost, his head buried deeply in his arms.

At that stage Somerset were 68 ahead, which, in the context of the match, was already a significant lead. Kieswetter, favouring the on-side, struck seven fours in his 70-ball 38. At the other end, Blackwell moved to his 150 in 178 deliveries with a four straight down the ground off Matt Nicholson. Nicholson now averages 86.00 with ball - not what Surrey, or any county for that matter, would demand from their overseas fast bowler.

When the end of the Cidermen's first innings came, it was quick. The under-used Dernbach was recalled to the attack in the 93rd over and the 22-year-old picked up wickets in the 95th, 97th, 99th and 101st overs. Blackwell had his off stump plucked out, Kieswetter mistimed a pull and was caught at deep mid-wicket, Ben Phillips was caught at third man and Alfonso Thomas fell victim to a brilliant catch at second slip. With Steffan Jones also going, caught at short leg off Saqlain, the visitors' last five wickets fell in the space of 32 deliveries for just six runs.

After lunch, Newman and Spriegel shared in Surrey's best first wicket stand in this year's championship. When he is form Newman is most attractive to watch. In the second over he flicked Phillips off his right leg through mid-wicket for four. Jones's first delivery was hooked for four and, in the next over, the 14th, Newman drove two fours, one on each edge of the V, off Thomas. Spriegel, who was dropped at second slip on 4, also caught the eye when he threaded Jones through backward point for four, but in Blackwell's first over, the 19th, the 21-year-old opener chopped on.

Enter Ramprakash, who batted positively if ultimately recklessly. After Newman had progressed to his half-century off 68 balls with a single off his hips, Ramprakash pulled Blackwell for four and angled Thomas down to the third man boundary. Newman then came to the fore once more by scoring ten runs off successive deliveries from Blackwell in the 25th over.

Three overs later Ramprakash dispatched Phillips forcefully through extra cover and, for a moment, everyone began to wonder if the 38-year-old was on course for his hundredth first-class hundred at last. The vision did not last long. Later in the same over, the 28th, Ramprakash, driving on the up, got an inside edge and was caught behind.

To say that the home side lost their way thereafter would be an understatement. In the 33rd over Usman Afzaal, trying to avoid a lifting ball from Blackwell, was caught off the glove at slip via the keeper. Twenty-four runs and 13 overs later, Newman, driving loosely, was out for 91. His highest championship score of the season took him nearly three hours, 136 balls, and included two sixes and ten fours.

Other than when Jonathan Batty pulled a loose delivery from Blackwell into one of the corporate hospitality marquees in the 53rd over, he and James Benning made only tentative progress until Benning, playing no stroke, was bowled in the 56th over. Batty went in the next, dabbing Blackwell to Zander de Bruyn at second slip. With de Bruyn spelling the end for Butcher, with a throw from backward point in the 64th over, it all added up to a woeful day for the Brown Caps.

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