KENT and Surrey lie second and third in the championship, yet, in terms of points, are both closer to the relegation zone than first place. Optimists will imagine their side pushing gloriously towards the title; pessimists see them leaning heavily against the trapdoor. Warwickshire, the leaders, can watch and smile.

Evidence from the St Lawrence ground yesterday suggests that Surrey have the glass that is half full. Jon Batty, their captain, called wisely in losing the toss and his seam bowlers, assisted by reliable catching, exploited the assistance on offer to penetrate the generally limp defences of the Kent batsmen.

Hindsight suggests that David Fulton erred badly in opting to take first strike. But there is little point choosing two specialist slow bowlers as well as an all-rounder in Alex Loudon, whose spin bowling is improving quickly, and then deciding not to give them fourth use of the pitch. Fulton could not legislate for a collapse.

Rain reduced the first day to four sessions of 13, 11, ten and 12 overs. In that time only Fulton really prospered, but even he had some uneasy moments between a few well-timed strokes and failed, for the first time this season, to turn a championship fifty into a hundred.

Martin Bicknell caused the early damage, claiming the first three wickets, before Azhar Mahmood generated enough speed off a six-pace run-up to deceive successive batsmen. The Pakistan bowler has four wickets to his name, but Jimmy Ormond lost nothing in comparison even though his figures suggest otherwise.

Although Bicknell ran in to a diagonal breeze, that wind also served to steer the ball away from the right-hander. Ed Smith could only edge to third slip while Loudon pushed one that bounced and left him to second slip, where Azhar held the low chance with deceptive ease.

Michael Bevan never engaged his feet to any effect during an all-too-brief stay, which ended when Bicknell removed his off stump. The former Australia batsman has scored 90 runs in six championship innings for Kent, and his dismissal left a huge onus on Fulton and Matthew Walker as the last recognised pair.

Fulton batted without inhibition, striking nine fours and a six, but died by the sword when his mistimed hook against Azhar sent a hanging catch to slip. Walker was caught on the crease when Azhar nipped one through in his next over.

Tim Murtagh chipped in by forcing Matthew Dennington into an ineffective push and Niall O’Brien soon followed in similar fashion. Rob Ferley, in the final 40 minutes, offered a broader bat but, with the bowlers refreshed this morning, even a single batting point must seem way off for Kent.

KENT:
First Innings
*D P Fulton c Clarke b Azhar Mahmood 57
E T Smith c Brown b Bicknell 0
A G R Loudon c Azhar Mahmood b Bicknell18
M G Bevan b Bicknell 7
M J Walker b Azhar Mahmood 2
N J O’Brien c Batty b Azhar Mahmood 20
M J Dennington c Batty b Murtagh 3
R S Ferley not out 6
M M Patel b Azhar Mahmood 10
I G Butler not out 9
Extras (b 1, lb 3) 4
Total (8 wkts, 46 overs) 136
R H Joseph to bat.

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-9, 2-43, 3-71, 4-85, 5-94, 6-99, 7-111, 8-121.

BOWLING: Bicknell 17-3-53-3; Ormond 12-4-40-0; Azhar Mahmood 11-4-29-4; Murtagh 6-3-10-1.

SURREY: S A Newman, R S Clinton, M R Ramprakash, R Clarke, *J N Batty, A D Brown, Azhar Mahmood, M P Bicknell, T J Murtagh, J Ormond, N D Doshi.

Bonus points: Kent 0 Surrey 2

Umpires: N G Cowley and A G T Whitehead.