Van Jaarsveld gives Surrey a jolt

County Championship D1, The Oval, day three (close):
Surrey 397 130 v Kent 270 & 166-5
Match scorecard

---

An exceptional performance with both bat and ball from Martin Van Jaarsveld gave Kent the chance of an unexpected victory over Surrey at The Oval.

The visitors go into the final day on 166-5, needing 92 more to win, having bowled Surrey out for just 130.

Van Jaarsveld added 20 to finish on an unbeaten 115 in the first innings, took a career-best 5-33 with the ball and ground out an unbeaten 70 after tea.

His second innings runs were vital after a poor start to the Kent chase.

Needing 258 to win, they saw skipper Rob Key bowled by Jade Dernbach's first ball before Pedro Collins saw off James Tredwell and Joe Denly to leave the visitors on 28-3.

But Van Jaarsveld, dropped by Scott Newman at second slip from Abdul Razzaq when on just 21, forged a 95-run fourth wicket partnership with Darren Stevens, the latter smashing 63 off 67 balls before being stumped off Saqlain Mushtaq.

With six overs remaining, Justin Kemp was brilliantly caught by Matthew Spriegel at short-leg off Saqlain for three.

Earlier, Kent had added just 35 runs to their overnight score of 235-7, leaving Surrey seemingly in complete command with a healthy 127-run lead.

But after Surrey openers Spriegel and Scott Newman had put on 50, Spriegel trod on his own stumps from a Van Jaarsveld delivery to signal a collapse.

Mark Ramprakash's quest for his 100th first-class century ended with a golden duck when he tried a big hit off Van Jaarsveld and was caught at mid-wicket.

On a wicket offering plenty to the spinners, Van Jaarsveld and Tredwell got stuck into the Surrey middle order.

And though Newman made 72 of the first 99 runs scored, there was virtually nothing from the others except Chris Schofield's 20.