County champions Surrey face a last-day rearguard action after their heavily-depleted batting line up faltered on the third afternoon of their Rothesay County Championship Division One match against Warwickshire at Edgbaston.
In reply to the home side’s 665 for five, Surrey closed the third day on 369 for nine, still 296 short of the follow on figure. Ben Foakes is unbeaten on 85 (185 balls), Dominic Sibley struck 64 (199) and Cameron Steel 55 (108) but while five of the top seven passed 50, none has yet emulated the three Warwickshire batters who passed three figures.
The Bears’ bowlers were rewarded for collective persistence after off-spinner Rob Yates jolted an apparent stalemate into life with a three-wicket burst. On a pitch which has yielded 14 wickets in three days, it’s a big ask for Warwickshire to find 11 on the fourth, but their big-hearted bowling display has kept the game alive.
