Big Bob the Key to a Surrey win tomorrow

Kent captain Rob Key played almost a lone hand in chasing the 322 run target Surrey eventually set this morning, and he'll return to the Oval tomorrow morning the only man standing between us and a third Championship win of 2011...or a third defeat.

The next best score in the Kent innings is Martin van Jaarsveld's 35, and the pair of them threatened to forge a matchwinning partnership before Tim Linley came to the rescue and cut him off as it was looking dangerous. Linley was the only man who seemed to offer a constant threat throughout the day and ended with 4-42. Batty also chipped in with 3-66 in between some rather expensive spells.

It's also partially down to Linley that Surrey managed to claw themselves to 322, he and Chris Tremlett put on the third highest partnership of Surrey's second innings, 36 vital runs for the tenth wicket.

Of course it should never have been down to batsmen 10 and 11 to make it competitive, the top order have some questions to answer regarding their application in that second innings. Had just one of them gone on to 60 or 70 the game would've been beyond Kent, but they didn't and Key ensured they've been made to sweat on it.

It will be hard on Rob Key to end up on the losing side tomorrow, if indeed he does, the kind of mental strength he's shown at the top of the Kent order today is hugely impressive. Kent still require 52 runs, Surrey just two wickets - we are still just about favourites but we cannot afford any of the wastefulness we've shown at times earlier in this game.