Caddick cuts through Surrey

Caddick stood tall on the first day at The Oval

Frizzell County Championship division one, AMP Oval, day one of four: Surrey 220 all out v Somerset 10-0

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The brimming confidence of division one leaders Surrey was dealt a reality check by Andy Caddick as Somerset assumed control at The Oval.

Surrey boldly declared going into this home fixture that, with Pakistan off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq making his championship debut, they were at their strongest this season.

But by day's end it was Somerset holding the aces, with Caddick's five-wicket haul instrumental in undefeated Surrey offering just 220 runs after winning the toss.

Caddick finished with five for 66, and was assisted in no small manner by fellow opener Matthew Bulbeck, who returned four for 60 and claimed the wicket of Ian Ward, Surrey's only batsman to make a half-century.

Bulbeck finished with four for 60

The start of play was delayed due to morning showers in the capital, and Surrey were immediately in bother when play did get underway one hour late.

Caddick bowled skipper Mark Butcher for four in the first over of the day, and Mark Ramprakash's swift dismissal for one, caught by Michael Burns at short-leg off Bulbeck, left Surrey on seven for two.

Graham Thorpe (19) looked in control in a third-wicket stand of 49 with Ward until his attempted clip off Caddick resulted in a juggling catch for Burns at square leg.

Ali Brown announced himself with a pulled six off Steffan Jones' first ball and continued in predictably attacking vein up to lunch.

Collapse

But his dismissal, caught behind off a superb Caddick delivery for 30, soon after the interval sparked a collapse of sorts, Surrey losing five wickets for 63 to stutter to 169 for eight.

Caddick claimed Alec Stewart for seven with another one which left the batsman off the pitch and resulted in a comfortable catch for first slip Peter Bowler.

Ward's dismissal - for a well-played 62, including seven fours off 101 balls - was a variation on that theme, though it was Bulbeck who removed him.

Only plucky resistance from tailenders Ian Salisbury (26) and Saqlain (21) pushed Surrey past 200, and though they may come out fighting on Saturday first-day honours laid squarely with Somerset.

Jamie Cox (eight) and Marcus Trescothick (one) survived four overs before stumps as Somerset finished on 10 for no loss.

Surrey: M A Butcher (Capt), I J Ward, M R Ramprakash, G P Thorpe, A D Brown, A J Stewart (Wkt), A J Tudor, M P Bicknell, I D K Salisbury, Saqlain Mushtaq, J Ormond.

Somerset: M E Trescothick (Capt), P D Bowler, J Cox, M Burns, K A Parsons, I D Blackwell, R J Turner (Wkt), K P Dutch, A R Caddick, M P L Bulbeck, P S Jones.

Umpires: G I Burgess and J W Holder