Scott Newman and James Benning helped Surrey recover from a minor collapse to reach 280-7 on the first day.
Surrey looked in trouble at 112-4 but half centuries from the pair ensured they ended the day in a solid position. Newman went on to complete 84, his highest score of the season, before he became the fifth man out, trapped leg before wicket by Alfonso Thomas.
Benning took advantage of anything wayward to move to 50 with his 10th boundary, eventually reaching 69.
But he foolishly danced down the wicket to Ian Blackwell and missed a flighted delivery to give the wicket-keeper Craig Kieswetter a simple stumping chance after he and Jonathan Batty had shared a sixth-wicket stand of 83.
Mark Ramprakash again missed the opportunity to notch his 100th century in first class cricket.
After a nervy start, the former England star smashed a couple of delightful boundaries in the 28th over to move to 16.
But he had added just one more run when he was beaten by a superb delivery from Charl Willoughby.
Late on Matt Nicholson holed out to a superb catch by Thomas at square leg after a quick fire 36 to leave Surrey on 297-7, and another three runs were added before bad light brought play to an abrupt end.
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