The contests between these two sides have for the last several season's been billed as potential championship deciders, historically Surrey and Yorkshire have been the country's two strongest counties and it is reputed that when they are strong then the national side is strong. Much of the improved performance of the England side in recent years has been built on the success of these two sides.

Over the past two seasons however Surrey have achieved two convincing victories at the Oval and winning draws at Scarborough and Headingley despite the way in which the white roses romped to the title in 2001. Surrey had dismantled Sussex in their first match of the season during round one, which the Tykes sat out, to lead the championship at the start (the side are traditionally late starters.

The only late starting Surrey were to do today though was their batting after winning the toss, the reason for that was that they spent two sessions destroying a weakened Yorkshire batting line up. In the absence of Vaughan, White and Byas Yorkshire's batting has a fragile look to it, on the first day against a rampant Alex Tudor it was more white rabbit than white rose.

Under bright blue skies on a dry wicket the home side were instantly pinned down the Surrey opening pair before being ground down and finally wiped out. That Lumb scored thirty runs and survived eighty balls is a credit to him, Richardson and Sidebottom also deserve credit for survival and adding a few runs. The rest of the team where, in the words of the Yorkshire Post `Steamrollered', grateful that Bicknell has not yet got into top gear this season - if he had then their total myay well have been far lower. The batting was for the most part bad, the bowling, a couple of Ormond's overs aside, excellent and the catching far above the standard that Surrey sometimes display and the innings was over blessedly quickly.

After tea Butcher and Ward set about the wayward Yorkshire bowling in truly murderous fashion, smashing Silverwood and Kirby out of the attack before Ryan Sidebottom with his mop of hair and accurate left arm seam bowling returned the game to some semblance of sanity with seven overs for seven runs.

When the close came a shell shocked Yorkshire side retreated from the field just twenty five runs ahead having taken no wickets, in effect twenty five all out with three days to play.

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