Lawes leads reply to Bears batsmen

Tom Lawes took three for six in a five-over spell to lead Surrey’s response with the ball as Warwickshire replied with 132 for four after earlier bowling out the county champions for 246 despite fine half-centuries from Ryan Patel, Rory Burns and Ollie Pope.

- By MARK BALDWIN ECB REPORTERS NETWORK Supported by Rothesay

Leading second-placed Nottinghamshire by nine points with three matches to go in the County Championship season, Surrey were indebted to Patel’s superb unbeaten 72 from 67 balls after being put in by Warwickshire at the Kia Oval.

And Lawes then whipped out Alex Davies, Sam Hain and Zen Malik in quick succession - all leg-before to fast, swinging deliveries - after Dan Worrall had Rob Yates well held at third slip for seven in his third over with the new ball.

Davies made 22, Hain a first ball duck and Malik eight and, at 47 for four, Warwickshire were in some trouble. But Ed Barnard then joined Will Young, who was dropped on 10 at second slip off Matt Fisher, in an unbroken stand of 85 that meant honours were shared fairly evenly at the end of a gripping first day.