CHRIS ADAMS may regard his Sussex side as even money for the championship, but Surrey still appear the better bet. For all the refreshing zeal with which Sussex have maintained their pursuit of Surrey’s crown, it is the depth and experience of the champions that appeals to the cautious gambler.

Sussex took to the top of the table after thumping Essex on Friday, but a Surrey success at Grace Road would restore their lead, and after making Leicestershire follow on with more than a day-and-a-half to go, they are well placed to do just that despite the home side’s impressive beginning to their second innings.

While Sussex gallop after what would be a first ever Championship, Surrey, under Adam Hollioake’s assured leadership, are chasing a fourth in the past five years alone. That is the sort of experience that counts in the home straight.

What may also assist Surrey is a squad that has greater depth than that of their challengers. Sussex have lost James Kirtley to a higher calling and rely hugely on Mushtaq Ahmed. Surrey have belatedly handed over Martin Bicknell to England and lost Azhar Mahmood to injury for the time being, but they still have James Ormond and Saqlain Mushtaq, while the likes of Rikki Clarke and Tim Murtagh have stepped into the breach.

Mahmood was unable to bowl after breaking his nose while batting on Friday, and it left the Surrey seam attack looking on the thin side, if any attack containing the worthy Ormond could be considered thin.

Clarke had taken two wickets in the Championship before arriving at Grace Road, but has conjured a timely impact with the ball — not least with the England selectors assembling this week to begin mulling over the winter tour parties. On Friday he struck a powerful century in front of Rod Marsh, one of those selectors, and followed that with three wickets.

He took a fourth yesterday as Surrey quickly wrapped up Leicestershire’s first innings and made them follow on 335 behind. It took them only 12 overs to claim the three wickets required with the help of a run- out, one for Ian Salisbury and the last for Clarke. The tall allrounder, who is 22 next month, finished with four for 21, the best return of his career.

Leicestershire have not finished lower than fifth since the Championship was divided, but their four-year sojourn in the First Division is all but certain to end come September. This is their 13th game, and they are yet to record a win, the only team in the top flight without a victory. They made a better start to their second innings, but the prospect of batting for a session short of two days to save the match against an attack that may be under strength, yet still contains four internationals, is not one many county sides could handle.

Darren Maddy and John Maunders saw off the opening pair of Ormond and Murtagh, Bicknell’s stand-in, but then Clarke came bounding in to make the breakthrough and have Maddy caught behind.

Maunders, a 22-year-old left-hander in his first season with Leicestershire, was joined by Brad Hodge, and the two resisted in contrasting but effective fashion. Hodge, as befits the Australian image, counter-attacked to notch up a century, while Maunders dug in. Surrey soon turned to Saqlain, who is having a good season by the standard of most but has taken barely half the number of wickets the other Mushtaq has managed. The Pakistani was frugal, but failed to seperate the second-wicket pair as they took the home side beyond their first-innings total.