Surrey flounder despite Tim Linley haul

Surrey 210 for 7 v Northamptonshire 397
Scorecard

Tim Linley took his maiden five-wicket haul in first-class cricket as Surrey struggled to fight their way back into the County Championship Division Two encounter with Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.

Northamptonshire, who saw former Sri Lanka seamer Chaminda Vaas in action for the first time, could only add 67 to their overnight total as they were bowled out for 397, with their last five wickets tumbling for just 35 runs. Paceman Linley finished with figures of 5 for 105 as the Northamptonshire batting corps faltered. Surrey made 210 for 7 in reply at stumps, with Mark Ramprakash making 70 off 159 balls.

Northamptonshire started the day on 330 for 5, with Mal Loye looking to build on his 121 and ex-captain Nicky Boje resuming on 77. South African Boje added 11 to his overnight total before he was run out by Chris Schofield at mid-on via a direct hit at the stumps when he tried to run a quick single off Jade Dernbach.

That ended a fabulous sixth-wicket stand of 193, and just four balls later a full toss by Dernbach trapped James Middlebrook lbw for 1. Out came Vaas, but he failed to score off nine balls before his off-stump was sent tumbling by Linley before the same bowler did for David Willey, who was caught by Arun Harinath at cover. Linley claimed his five-for when he took out Loye's off-stump the batsman had spent over six hours at the crease in making 164 off 298 balls.

Vaas then had a dream start to his spell in Surrey's reply when, with just his third delivery, he forced Harinath to edge his first ball to Middlebrook at third slip. Wicketkeeper Steven Davies helped steady the Surrey nerves by making 33 before he was caught behind by his counterpart Niall O'Brien off Lee Daggett.

Boje then claimed the wicket of Surrey captain Rory Hamilton-Brown (30) when he forced him to nudge to O'Brien. Ramprakash, who struck centuries in both innings against Middlesex last week, then reached his half-century off 105 balls.

In the third over after tea, Daggett bowled Usman Afzaal and Ramprakash made it to 70 before he sliced Middlebrook high into the air, giving Vaas an easy catch at point. Captain Andrew Hall took two late wickets in bowling Chris Schofield and pinning Tom Jewell lbw, leaving Matthew Spriegel unbeaten on 25 with Andre Nel yet to score.