Four more for Tremlett on a decent day for Surrey

Without knowing the precise characteristics of this particular pitch its difficult to assess precisely where Surrey and Worcestershire are in this match, but looking back at other results at New Road this season, 300-odd on the board in the first innings is about par.

It probably shouldn't be as many as that after we reduced them to 105-5 with another excellent pre-lunch bowling display on the first morning.  In fact if it wasn't for Meaker's horror show (he was going at approaching 8 runs an over into the break) it would've been even more impressive.  But as we let Rayner and Co. get Sussex off the hook a little last week, today Cameron, Wheeldon and Andrew hauled them up to 300.

It seems to be those lower middle order and lower order batsmen who are peculiarly tough for Surrey to dismiss for reasons that are beyond me, but the comeback to dismiss the final three batsmen for just 12 and before close was impressive today.

Chris Tremlett was again impressive in picking up another four-for and now has 34 for the season at 20 each, the sort of form that might just crowbar him on to the plane for the Ashes tour.  Dernbach too was good again and is proving a useful backup for main man Tremlett, he returned 3-78 and Batty chipped in with his ritual 3-for.  Hopefully tomorrow Meaker will find his mojo again, he vacillates between utterly unplayable and spraying it around like a garden hose, lets hope in the second innings its more of the former.

Surrey's openers managed to play out the three overs before close and put 12 on the board, Lancefield and Harinath will want to stamp their authority on the bowlers tomorrow.  Whether they will get the chance to is another matter and the weather could stand between Surrey, Worcestershire and a result in this match as it did last week.

If we can cobble together a 100 run first innings lead at a decent lick there's still plenty of reason to hope for a result in this one.  However Worcestershire's bowlers are not to be sniffed at, Mason and Shakib in particular will be tricky to negotiate.  Knuckle down tomorrow boys (in between the showers) and you never know!

Update:  It turns out that there were a number of dropped chances today, which is bitterly disappointing, both Wheeldon and Cameron were dropped early on and without their runs we'd be firmly in the box seats.  The fielding early this season was poor, but generally seemed to get better but to hear of so many missed chances today is frustrating.  Adams simply must focus on this, we are continually going to be behind the 8-ball if we can't snaffle the chances that come our way.