Relegation looms for poor Surrey

County Championship D1, The Oval (day one, stumps)
Middlesex 404-5d v Surrey 59-2

Match scorecard

Surrey's Mark Butcher was a frustrated captain on Wednesday

Surrey stand on the brink of relegation in the County Championship after being outplayed by Middlesex on day one of their match at The Oval.

The visitors racked up 404-5 declared with Scott Styris making 100 not out and Ed Joyce 90. Surrey then made a faltering reply to end the day on 59-2.

Needing to win the game and take more bonus points than Middlesex to survive, Surrey gained just one bowling point.

That left them with the task of scoring 400 without losing another wicket.

If they do that and go on to win the game, Middlesex would be relegated instead.

Surrey's reply got off to the worse possible start when Mark Butcher (five) was run out by Jamie Dalrymple's throw from backward point in the third over and Rikki Clarke played all round a straight one from Styris for 22.

Mark Ramprakash, once of Middlesex, and Scott Newman batted out the last few overs.

After winning the toss Middlesex's first aim was to gain maximum batting points, which they did with the minimum of fuss thanks to Styris, Joyce and captain Ben Hutton, who contributed 79.

They were aided by some woeful bowling from Surrey, whose new coach Alan Butcher has much to work on.