If Surrey can avoid the errors in judgement displayed by Warwickshire's batsmen at Edgbaston yesterday, the visitors stand every chance of making sure they will be competing in Division One of the County Championship next summer. The Brown Caps spent just one season in Division Two, but for much of 2007 have struggled to come to terms with life back in the top flight. With the ball, they have relied heavily on their two overseas signings to get the job done. It was therefore gracious of the home side to make up for Harbhajan Singh's withdrawal from this contest, with a foot injury, by surrendering the high ground they held at lunch.

After losing Ian Westwood and Jonathan Trott early on to useful deliveries from Jimmy Ormond and Matt Nicholson, the hosts had raised their total to 141-2 at the break. Michael Powell, who, before yesterday, had a highest score this season of 37 not out, was unbeaten on 62 and Jim Troughton had just brought up his fifty off 74 balls.

In the eighth over Powell hit Ormond for boundaries either side of the wicket. His partner, Troughton, was twice squared up in Jade Dernbach's first over and led something of a charmed existence, though he did manage to cut Chris Jordan for six. But Powell underlined his personal return to form by driving James Benning through point for four, then straight up the ground for another boundary, his tenth, to post an 80-ball half-century.

After lunch, Troughton drove Mortaza Hussain, who was making his debut for Surrey, over the heads of the two short extra covers for four. Three overs later, having been dropped at third slip on 16 off the bowling of Dernbach, Troughton was handed another life, on 70, when a head high chance to second slip off Nicholson went through the hands of the normally reliable Stewart Walters.

But the left-hander's departure, caught down the leg-side in the 52nd over for 76, sparked Warwickshire's collapse. The home side lost their last eight wickets for 92 runs in twenty-six overs and almost all of the batsmen had a hand in their own demise.

Powell went in the over after Troughton, miscuing to mid-on off Dernbach, who, as if to confuse the locals, was wearing Rory Hamilton-Brown's Surrey shirt. Alex Loudon was caught at the wider of two gullies off Ormond, who proved to be the Brown Caps' most charitable bowler, and Ant Botha was lbw when his attempted angled sweep failed to connect with a flighted delivery from Hussain.

After Tim Ambrose had hit Ormond out of the attack and cut Hussain for four, Alfonso Thomas cut Jordan to Benning at point. Chris Woakes pulled the first ball he received for four, but lost Ambrose on the stroke of tea when the stand-in Warwickshire captain holed out to deep mid-wicket.

Woakes went in the same over, which straddled the break, when he was caught at the finer of the two gullies. The innings was wrapped up by Hussain - a 32-year-old Pakistani off-spinner, who is a British Passport holder - though not before being swept for six by Neil Carter.

In reply to Warwickshire's 285, the visitors lost Scott Newman, caught behind, in the third over. Mark Ramprakash and Jonathan Batty saw out the next twenty-one overs without any further mishaps and will no doubt be looking forward to taking advantage of the short boundary on the Eric Hollies Stand side of the ground when they resume their innings this morning.

Ramprakash, who has a good record against Warwickshire, especially since his move to Surrey in 2001, cover drove Woakes's first ball in first-class cricket for four and later hit James Anyon for a straight six. Batty, however, was a little fortunate. In the ninth over the ball rolled on to his stumps without removing a bail and three overs later he ought to have been caught at first slip off the bowling of Thomas for four.

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