An explosive 17-wicket second day at the Kia Oval ended, remarkably, with Liam Patterson-White and Lyndon James producing the highest partnership of an absorbing low-scoring match to tilt the potential championship title decider Nottinghamshire’s way.
At 219 for eight in their second innings, Notts are 277 runs ahead of Surrey and after Patterson-White fell for 58, the best individual score of the match so far, they saw Brett Hutton (23 not out) and Josh Tongue, unbeaten on 14, add more vital runs before the close.
Earlier, James and Hutton had played their part in a burst of seaom bowling which yielded nine wickets in the space of 20 overs, Surrey adding just 72 runs in that time, with Josh Tongue and Dillon Pennington also picking up scalps.
Surrey started the day 43-1 and looked fairly comfortable within the first hour despite Pennington and Tounge searching for the outside edge.
It was all-rounder James who made the first breakthrough, removing nightwatchman Tom Lawes for 22 after a strong catch low down by Jack Haynes.
Hutton removed Rory Burns LBW in the next over, and the duo continued to challenge the new partnership of Ollie Pope and Ben Foakes.
James challenged Foakes' outside edge repeatedly before finally finding it as he was removed for 10.
Foakes’ dismissal was the first of wickets in three consecutive overs, Dan Lawrence departing for a duck after a fine delivery from Hutton before Pope found Freddie McCann at second slip, leaving Surrey 141/6 at lunch.
Tongue and Pennington picked up the baton in the afternoon session, pinning Ryan Patel and Tom Curran respectively, before England paceman Tongue accounted for Gus Atkinson and Matt Fisher in successive overs.
Notts had secured a priceless first-innings lead of 58 in a game where bowlers have largely held the advantage - a theme which continued as Nottinghamshire's top five departed with their second innings score barely past 50.
The seeds of the fightback were sown by Kyle Verreynne and James, Notts reaching Tea at 88/5, leading by 146 runs.
Following Verreynne's dismissal, Patterson-White emerged at No 8 to frustrate Surrey’s bowlers in alliance with James.
The homegrown pair showed superb judgement and shot selection to build the most signifiant partnership of the match.
They had put on 91 for the seventh wicket when James was dismissed by a fine Fisher delivery, and Patterson-White would follow three overs later having passed 50 for the tenth time in First-Class cricket.
Late impetus was provided with the bat by Hutton (23*) and Tongue (14*), as Nottinghamshire's lead neared 280 at stumps.
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