England's erstwhile Test opener Adam Lyth hit an unbeaten century as Yorkshire edged toward parity going into the final day of their rain-ruined Specsavers County Championship clash with Surrey.

The 28-year-old left-hander from Whitby defied Surrey's attack and a gloomy afternoon in south east London to reach 116 not out for his part in a third-wicket stand with Andrew Gale (61) that added 150 and helped cut the first innings deficit to 60.

With Yorkshire on 207 for three, a positive fourth-day result appears unlikely on a pitch at The Kia Oval that has grown flatter by the hour, but Lyth must have been quietly pleased with his timely display on the eve of the First Investec Test against Pakistan.

Responding by the mid-session to Surrey's 267 all out, the championship title-holders initially stumbled to 47 for two within 13 overs. They lost Alex Lees (15) in the eighth over who, having plundered a brace of boundaries off Sam Curran, was undone by one that trimmed off stump to make it 28 for one.

Jack Leaning soon followed without scoring when he went back to cut Stuart Meaker's first-ball loosener, only to chop a short delivery onto the base of his off stump.

Yorkshire re-grouped nicely through Lyth and Gale, the former moving sweetly to a 70-ball 50 after rocking back to punch through the covers for four against the bowling of Gareth Batty.

Batty suffered again after tea when Lyth, who won the last of his seven England caps against Australia here almost a year ago, pulled a long-hop into the lower echelons of the OCS Stand for the first six of the match, then, after a short break for bad light, he danced down the pitch to deposit one from Zafar Ansari into the Pavilion seats for another maximum.

He reached his 19th first-class century with a pulled boundary to fine leg off a Stuart Meaker bouncer. He reached three figures off 159 balls and hit 11 fours and a brace of sixes.

At the other end, Gale was content to play second fiddle, posting a 131-ball 50 - his first of the campaign - that, whilst ensuring his side could not lose this match, also maintained their slim chances of pushing for a last-day victory. The Yorkshire captain fell five overs from the scheduled close when feathering one from Tom Curran into the gloves of Ben Foakes for a season's best 61, leaving Lyth to go into the final day with power to add.

At the start of the third day, Yorkshire needed a shade over two hours to mop up Surrey's five remaining first innings wickets.

With the hosts nine wickets down at 1pm, umpires Martin Saggers and Neil Bainton had just sanctioned an additional 30 minutes when, three deliveries later, Stuart Meaker (4) nibbled to first slip to end the innings at 267 and leave top-scorer Sam Curran undefeated on 59.

Surrey had made a poor start when, without addition to their overnight score and to only the fourth delivery of the day, Foakes steered one from Steven Patterson to second slip where Lyth pocketed the catch to make it 164 for six.

Steve Davies raised a 69-ball half-century as he and Sam Curran added 75 in tandem but, with his score on 56, the former England keeper went lbw to one from Tim Bresnan that appeared to cut back in to the left-hander.

Curran posted his 50 from 82 balls but, moments later his brother Tom fell lbw after rocking back when aiming to leg against Adil Rashid. Four balls later Batty fell in similar fashion without troubling the scorers enabling Yorkshire to bank their third bowling bonus point.

Yorkshire's century-maker Lyth said: "It's as a very good day for us. It was nice to get the five wickets early on and then go out and bat like we did. It's a good wicket but very slow when the ball's straight. We were in a bit of strife at 40-2 before me and Galey put on that great partnership. It was nice to go on and get a hundred. I'm pleased for Galey as well that he got 60-odd. He batted very well."

He added: "It's going to be tough, but I think we can win. A lot's got to happen. In that first hour, we can't lose too many wickets. We've got to have a lot of wickets in the shed for that second hour of the morning. It's taking spin now as well, and we've got two spinners. There's no reason why we can't win, but it will be very tough from where we are now.

"If we get a decent lead and put them under pressure, you never know what can happen." Surrey's top-scorer Sam Curran was delighted to be back in the side and amongst the runs. "It's been nice to be back in the side after all my school commitments and get out in the middle again," he said.

"I enjoyed a nice partnership with 'Davo' (Steven Davies) and a great battle against Adil Rashid's bowling. They (Yorkshire) showed why they are one of the top teams in this division and made us think on our feet throughout."

TEA REPORT

An unbroken third-wicket stand of 60 between Andrew Gayle and Adam Lyth took Yorkshire to tea in good spirits at 107 for two on day three of their Specsavers Championship clash with Surrey at The Kia Oval.

Responding in the mid-session to Surrey's 267 all out, the visitors stumbled to 47 for two before Lyth (57*) and his skipper Gale (27*) came together to steady the white rose ship and cut Surrey's lead to 160 by the second interval.

The championship title-holders had lost Alex Lees (15) in the eighth over of the reply. Having plundered a brace of boundaries off Sam Curran, Lees was undone by one that trimmed off stump to make it 28 for one.

Jack Leaning soon followed without scoring when he leaned back to cut Stuart Meaker's first delivery of the match, only to chop the short delivery onto the base of his off stump.

Yorkshire re-grouped nicely through Lyth and Gale, the left-hander moving sweetly to a 70-ball 50 after rocking back to punch through the covers for four off the back foot against the bowling of Gareth Batty.

LUNCH REPORT

Yorkshire mopped up Surrey's five remaining first innings wickets in a shade over two hours on the third morning of their Specsavers County Championship Division 1 clash at the Kia Oval.

With the hosts nine wickets down, the umpires had just extended the opening session for a possible 30 minutes when, three deliveries later, Stuart Meaker (4) feathered to first slip to end the innings at 267 and leave Sam Curran undefeated on 59.

Surrey had made a poor start to the third day when, without addition to their overnight score and to only the fourth delivery of the day, Ben Foakes steered one from Steven Patterson to second slip where Adam Lyth pocketed the catch to make it 164 for six.

Despite sunshine overhead, conditions for batting were testing for the opening half-hour on a pitch that had been covered for more than four sessions over the opening two days.

Both Sam Curran and Steve Davies played and missed during the early exchanges, but passed the initial examination. After 55 minutes Davies clipped a short ball from Azeem Rafiq through mid-wicket for his eighth boundary to raise his 69-ball half century.

Davies added 75 in tandem with Curran but, with his score on 56, the former England keeper went leg before to one from Tim Bresnan that appeared to cut back in to the left-hander.

Sam Curran posted his 50 from 82 balls but, moments later his brother Tom fell lbw after rocking back when aiming to leg against Adil Rashid. Four balls later Gareth Batty fell in similar fashion without troubling the scorers as Yorkshire banked their third bowling bonus point.

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