Warwickshire 161 (Burgess 54, Roach 4-64, Worrall 3-34) and 126 for 7 (Worrall 3-17, Clark 3-22) path Surrey 396 (Foakes 125, Steel 71, Barnard 5-66) by 109 runs

Surrey are closing in. They took 17 Warwickshire wickets on the Kia Oval on Monday and, with Essex unlikely to succeed in a 3rd batting bonus level in opposition to Middlesex, will go a minimum of 18 factors clear on the prime of the Championship desk when the mud settles on this spherical.

That will imply, relying on Essex's ongoing fixture in opposition to Middlesex and the go to of Hampshire to Chelmsford in two weeks' time (neither of the highest two play subsequent week), Surrey can hope to clinch their second successive title after they play their last residence recreation of the summer season in opposition to Northamptonshire from September 19. It could be troublesome to argue that they haven't earned it.

Warwickshire's aspect for this fixture all the time regarded a batter gentle, regardless of the arrival of Kraigg Brathwaite for the ultimate month of the season. They are with out two first-choice top-order batters in Rob Yates (sickness) and Alex Davies (again), whereas Jacob Bethell and Liam Norwell are additionally sidelined. The promotion of Ed Barnard to No. 3 was as optimistic as his first-innings go away, and his two innings introduced 5 runs between them.

Barnard's day had began brightly: he took three wickets, together with two in three balls, to complete with 5 for 66, his first Championship five-for since 2019. Surrey let their in a single day 339 for 4 flip into 396 all out; they wanted 4 runs off three balls to safe a fourth batting level when Ben Foakes dragged Danny Briggs to deep midwicket for 125.

But this isn't the Oval pitch of outdated, the place runs flowed freely all season. Only as soon as this summer season has a crew reached 400 in a red-ball match: Australia's 463 all out within the first innings of the World Test Championship last, again in June. Surrey have usually performed on pitches with a protecting of stay grass, preserving their seamers in any respect levels.

"We thought it was a good batting wicket: there's a bit there for the bowlers, but once you get yourself in, you can get a big score like Foakesy did," Roach stated. "As a bowling unit, we were outstanding. We're a very skilful group and once we put the ball in the right areas, we got the results. Happy for the 17 wickets, and it makes it pretty easy for tomorrow."

Worrall eliminated each openers earlier than lunch, hooping one again into Will Rhodes' off stump and having Brathwaite caught within the slips fencing at a brief, vast outswinger. Roach, like Brathwaite deemed surplus to necessities by all six Caribbean Premier League franchises, bowled Barnard as he shouldered arms, then struck with successive balls in his first over after lunch to have Dan Mousley chopping on and Chris Benjamin caught at slip.

Surrey enforced the follow-on after tea and Warwickshire struggled once more, sliding from 19 for 0 to twenty for 4 in 15 balls. Clark bowled Brathwaite and had Hain edging behind, whereas Worrall did for Rhodes, edging behind, and Barnard, nailing a drive straight to cowl.

Warwickshire regarded set for defeat inside two days when Clark trapped Benjamin on the again pad to go away them 35 for five, nonetheless 200 behind. It took a 75-run stand between Burgess and the counter-attacking Mousley, who ended the day unbeaten on a trendy 60, to keep away from that ignominy.

But shortly earlier than the shut, Roach knocked out Burgess' off stump and Worrall had Briggs pouched at second slip to go away Surrey three wickets away, and Warwickshire going through a journey residence up the M40 tomorrow with their mid-table standing confirmed.

Matt Roller is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @mroller98