EVERY time Surrey think that they are turning a corner this season they end up in a cul-de-sac. An innings of 177 by Chris Taylor and a record eighth-wicket stand gave Surrey another frustrating day in the field after they had put Gloucestershire in on a green-tinged pitch. What might have been was shown when Tim Murtagh wrapped up the innings, taking the last three Gloucestershire wickets for no runs in five balls.

Surrey will be ruing dropping Taylor on 31 when Adam Hollioake could not hold on to a difficult chance low to his right at third slip off Murtagh. It did not seem so important then with Surrey on top. The Gloucestershire batting line-up has a fragility to it that looked likely to buckle under early pressure. Even after Taylor and Alex Gidman had put on 131 in 29 overs Gloucestershire still slipped to 247 for seven. But Taylor rattled on, reaching his hundred off 147 balls with 19 fours.

Taylor, the Gloucestershire captain, who had arrived at the crease in the fourth over at six for two, found sturdy support from James Averis. They put on 121 in 37 overs. Averis took the pair past the 67-year-old Gloucestershire record for the eighth wicket of 111, and his previous best in the championship of 43, with a cover drive off Murtagh. But when Taylor edged to first slip after a weary back-foot drive, it was all over in a hurry.

That left Surrey a tricky four overs at the end that Hollioake, in his new role as opener, looked likely to survive until he was run out by Taylor off the fourth ball of the last over of the day.

Surrey had earlier suffered more injury problems. James Ormond limped off with an injury to his right knee just before tea and did not bowl again. After losing to Gloucestershire inside three days at Bristol, Surrey, who are still without Saqlain Mushtaq and Azhar Mahmood, have had a fortnight off from the championship during which Ormond has been nursing his left knee.

Ormond, who before the match had taken nine champ- ionship wickets at 74.66, was the danger man early on, his movement accounting for Craig Spearman and Matt Windows.