Jake Ball led the Nottinghamshire charge as the home county fought hard to maintain the advantage on the third day of their Specsavers County Championship match against Surrey at Trent Bridge.
Ball took three for 77, as Surrey battled to wipe out their first innings deficit before closing on 297 for five, a lead of 76.
Arun Harinath, with an undefeated 114 and Kumar Sangakkara, who made 83, put on 142 together to lead the Surrey revival, setting the match up for a thrilling final day.
Resuming from their overnight position of 14 without loss, Surrey’s openers took to the crease after the start had been delayed until 2pm.
Rory Burns clipped a couple of boundaries away through the leg side but then played around a delivery from Ball and was sent on his way for 17.
Sangakkara and Harinath, aided by some fluent cover drives and purposeful running, blunted the home attack, despite the bowler-friendly overhead conditions.
Sangakkara reached his 50 from 62 deliveries, with nine fours and was unbeaten on 83 at tea, with Harinath on 53 not out, having got to his 50 from 107 balls.
The pair had added 138 for the second wicket by that stage and four more came from the opening over of the second session. That brought Ball back into the attack and he struck immediately, getting Sangakkara caught behind with his opening delivery.
Without further addition to the total Ball removed Steven Davies in almost identical fashion, having him caught by Read without scoring.
Jason Roy, who had blazed a punchy 28 in the first innings, helped Harinath wipe out the deficit but the overall lead was only 12 when he was pinned in his crease by Brett Hutton for 37.
Harinath moved to 96 with his first maximum, hooking Hutton over the square leg fence and then reached three figures by sweeping Samit Patel fine for his 14th boundary, from his 182nd delivery.
Ben Foakes played his second attractive knock of the match but, as in the first innings when he fell for 38, he threw away the chance of a sizeable score when he chipped straight back to Patel for 26 after a stand of 55.
Surrey’s hopes of emerging unscathed – or better – will depend on Harinath being able to extend his innings deep into the final day, with the second new ball only seven overs away.