DESPITE bowling out top of the table Surrey for 213, Worcestershire finished the day second best after 17 wickets fell on the first day on a blameless Oval wicket, writes Mark Caswell.
The teams went into this game with no recognised spinner, as the seamers dominated both innings.
It came as a surprise when Worcester put Surrey in to bat on a wicket with a green tinge in glorious sunshine, but soon found themselves 15-4 , with Joe Leach bowling a devastating opening spell with 3-22 off nine overs.
The fifth-wicket partnership of 148 from Ollie Pope (63) and Dan Lawrence (84) looked like saving the day for Surrey, only for star performer Matthew Waite to go through the middle order.
Waite recorded 3-19 while Leach 3-62 , Matthew Smith 2-55 and Ben Gibbon 1-32, took the wickets.
Debutant paceman Yadvinder Singh, the only change from the draw at Kent last week who replaced Carribbean-bound Jason Holder, struggled with his length, as he went for 43 wicketless runs.
Surrey, boasting without doubt the best bowling attack in County Championship, came out firing on all cylinders and Worcester soon found themselves 53-5, with all the seam bowlers picking up wickets.
It is not easy on the eye the consistent fourth stump bowling with a packed slip cordon, and third man, runs have come at a premium in recent games as oppositionbatsmaen lose patience with the few scoring options offered.
Waite looked comfortable and played well for his 35 before being trapped by Kemar Roach, Brett D’Oliveira finished unbeaten with a battling 22.
It is important the visitors do not allow Surrey a lead of more than fifty runs before the home side start their second innings.
