by Michael McCann
at Beckenham

Surrey gained the upper hand on day three of their Division Two County Championship clash with Kent at Beckenham yesterday.

The visitors closed on 44-1 chasing 195 to win after bowling Kent out for 204 — 4-58 from Zafar Ansari was crucial, with 66 from Joe Denly the most notable resistance.

Earlier Surrey reached 292 all out to claim a first innings lead of 10 runs, just short of a third batting point after resuming on 250-8 overnight.

Captain Gareth Batty was out in the third over of the day leg before to Matt Coles, who returned impressive figures of 4-81.

Tom Curren and Luke Fletcher scored 26 not out and 23 respectively before Darren Stevens took the final wicket to finish with 4-48.

In reply Kent lost Daniel Bell-Drummond and club captain Rob Key to Matt Dunn either side of lunch, the first LBW for nine, the second caught behind for 16.

Sam Northeast then played positively in hitting a cameo 26 but Ansari dismissed him as Kent slid from 97-2 to 115-6 — the spinner notched three wickets in four balls, spread across two overs.

Fabian Cowdrey was carelessly stumped for nine, Darren Stevens nicked a turning ball to Jason Roy at first slip and Sam Billings fell for a golden duck, as his leading edge was caught by Dom Sibley.

Opener Joe Denly batted sensibly amid the chaos to reach his 50 from 108 deliveries, before being bowled by Batty.

Surrey began their chase positively, with Rory Burns 29 not out from just 31 balls and Zafar Ansari the only wicket to fall, LBW to Stevens for 10.