Barry Hyam looks poised to keep his place in the Essex side after playing a starring role during yesterday's absorbing tussle for supremacy at The Oval.

The 23-year-old wicket keeper was recently recalled to the side because Robert Rollins had not recovered from injury. But even if Rollins is declared fit, following a pulled muscle, he is likely to find himself on the sidelines.

Certainly Hyam deserves to keep his place for the match against Yorkshire starting at Chelmsford on Wednesday following his maiden first-class half century which so frustrated the Surrey attack and help leave the final day delicately balanced.

It ended with Surrey 110 for three in quest of a 272 target, one which would require them to achieve the biggest total of the match to reach the winning post.

Hyam scored 51 out of a modest Essex second innings total of 204. Admittedly Lady Luck was on his side.

He survived a difficult chance in the slips with only a single against his name and a much easier effort nine runs later when his opposite number Jon Batty put him down.

But he made good those escapes to penetrate the field with some fine strokes either side of the wicket to gather seven boundaries in his valuable 77-ball innings.

It was just as well Hyam rode his luck because apart from Stuart Law no one else was able to reach 20 after Surrey fought their way back into the game after finishing 67 adrift on first innings.

Paul Prichard has his off-stump knocked back by Martin Bicknell in the fifth over of the innings and that started a steady procession to and from the pavilion, half the side being dispatched for 97.

Both Butcher and Ian Ward survived several anxious moments when Surrey began their victory bid, particularly against Mark Ilott who beat the bat several times without reward.

They were able to past the 50 in the 14th over and as the total moved to 66, the home side could claim to have gained the upper hand.

Ian Salisbury came in for the final couple of overs with Ratcliffe to leave both counties with the scent of victory in their nostrils.

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