On the pitches they produce at the AMP Oval, it is often difficult to obtain a result unless one of the sides let themselves down in the batting department. So, with Surrey as good as cancelling out the visitors 413 yesterday, in the twenty-nine overs made possible by the weather, it seems likely that today’s play will be become a net.

When things did finally get underway at 2.00pm, with the loss of 37 overs, the home side progressed from 237 for four to within touching distance of a fourth batting point; only for the rain to return again and put paid to the final session. Assuming Surrey go for all five batting points this morning – it is hard seeing them doing anything else – only a contrived finish is likely to reward those spectators fortunate enough in this economic climate to be in Monday to Friday employment.

Nevertheless, there is much to play for with places in the home side yet to be cemented. But one man whose position is secure, not only because he’s the Surrey captain is Adam Hollioake.

In the 7th over he reached three figures for the second time in a week – off 114 balls – with a pull so fierce the square leg fieldsman was unable to snare it properly. After caressing Neil Smith through the covers off the back foot, Hollioake returned to his bludgeoning ways by straight and cover driving consecutive deliveries from the veteran spinner for six and then four.

Alec Stewart, who played more positively in view of Surrey’s assured position, reached his fifty in 99 balls only to get out moments later to the tamest of edges to first slip. Hollioake and Stewart finished just six runs short of equalling Trevor Jesty and Duncan Pauline’s county record for the fifth-wicket against Warwickshire, set at Edgbaston in 1985.

Six overs later the Surrey skipper was caught behind off a half-hearted pull, which the 31-year-old appeared to be trying to leave. That gave Dougie Brown figures of 6-0-16-2 from his one and only spell.

Azhar Mahmood, like so many other Surrey batsmen, play his shots and none was struck with more ferocity yesterday than one which dislocated the little finger on Neil Smith’s right hand in the 81st over of the innings. After having his digit remedied by the Warwickshire physio, Smith completed the over, but was then replaced at the Vauxhall End by the steady seam of Mohammed Sheikh.

Azhar provided Mark Wagh with a high swirling catch at mid-on – off Sheikh – three overs before tea, which the umpires and players decided to take early to allow the groundmen to cover the wicket before the arrival of more rain. Despite the Oval basking in sunshine fifteen minutes later, another much more prolonged shower arrived to write-off any chance of further play, which was called off by Messrs. Willey and Evans just before 5.00pm.

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