Rikki Clarke's announcement that he was standing down as Surrey's official vice-captain was overshadowed by the Brown Caps' collapse from 245-1 to 370 all out on a slow New Road pitch; leaving them facing a second successive innings defeat. Worcestershire's bowlers were assisted by some dubious shot selection, the worst example of which was Clarke's attempted reverse sweep to Gareth Batty in the 84th over to make it 284-5 in reply to the highest total in the hosts' 108-year history.

Asked to follow-on for the first time since the opening match of last season, Surrey battled through the final session for the loss of Jonathan Batty, who reached at a good length ball from Nadeem Malik in the 26th over to be caught behind. The visitors will resume today needing to score a further 272 to make Worcestershire bat again.

Day three could not have started more differently for the Oval outfit. Batty, having survived chances on 25 and 38 on Thursday, hit the ball sumptuously through cover and moved to the fifteenth hundred of his career with a late cut for four off Malik in the 55th over. It had taken the 33-year-old stumper 161 balls, and included 19 fours.

Ramprakash brought up his half-century, which contained seven boundaries, in 128 deliveries. After surviving being run out by Vikram Solanki, fielding at mid-off, in the 66th over, the former Middlesex man on drove Malik for four to take the second wicket partnership past the 150-mark. However, in the last over before lunch, Batty lunged forward and was caught behind off his namesake.

After the break, Ramprakash, with both feet planted, went to pull Malik from outside off stump and was caught behind, then Malik struck again when Alistair Brown was taken low down at first slip by Phil Jaques.

Clarke's disregard for the situation saw him pop up a catch to Steve Davies, behind the stumps, off Gareth Batty. Eight overs later, Azhar Mahmood was adjudged lbw to a ball from Kabir Ali that appeared to strike the Pakistan all-rounder outside the line of off stump. Mahmood clearly thought there he got some bat on it as well.

Chris Schofield looked in good touch until he pushed tentatively forward to his former Lancashire team-mate, Kyle Hogg. Mark Butcher, batting with a runner due to a sore Achilles tendon, clipped the same bowler to mid-on in the 109th over.

Ian Salisbury edged a ball on to his off stump, Matt Nicholson failed to keep on top of a sweep and in just 40 overs the Brown Caps had lost nine wickets for 125 runs, leaving them still 331 adrift of their hosts; who appear to be in with a real chance of notching up their first championship win of the summer.

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