Surrey v Warwickshire: Boyd Rankin turns the game at Guildford

Boyd Rankin made a dramatic return to Warwickshire duty by taking three wickets in five balls at Guildford to leave Surrey in danger of following on.

After a late start following unexpected morning rain, Surrey, 49-0 overnight, looked in little trouble on 262-3.

But they then collapsed to 269-7 by the close of play on the third day, despite Ricky Ponting's unbeaten 50.

Rankin's three scalps in the same over were quickly followed by Keith Barker removing Jason Roy in the final over.

Ricky Ponting and Vikram Solanki were two of Surrey's three half-centurions

Responding to Warwickshire's mammoth 631-9 declared, Surrey still need 213 runs to make the visitors bat again, their hopes resting entirely on former Australia captain Ponting.

Vikram Solanki (69) and Arun Harinath (65) also made half centuries too, but with a second new ball due in the morning, Warwickshire suddenly looked in command of a game that had apparently been drifting to a draw just half an hour before the close.

Rankin's first few overs had proved expensive (6-0-38-0) after his introduction into the attack following his release from England's Champions Trophy squad,

But the Irishman then suddenly found his range, clean bowling Zander de Bruyn, Stuart Meaker and Gary Wilson, before Barker had the final word - the fourth Surrey wicket to fall for just seven runs in 31 balls.

VIEW FROM THE COMMENTARY BOX

BBC WM's Mike Taylor:

"Boyd Rankin has always had all the attributes a fast bowler needs and, when he clicks, you can see what all the fuss is about.

"He clicked out of the blue as this third day was meandering towards the close when suddenly, with the old ball, he was quick, straight, full and irresistible. Sometimes, when a big man bowls fast and straight, it is a simple game after all.

"Taking 13 wickets on the last day will still be a tall order for Warwickshire but, win or draw, the county champions have been back in the groove this week, grinding the opposition down with a big first innings and then trying to work through getting 20 wickets.

"'It was about getting 20 poles, now it's about getting 13 poles,' said captain Jim Troughton afterwards. Saturday could yet be interesting."

Match scorecard