County Championship: Zafar Ansari haul boosts Surrey

Zafar Ansari has taken 20 wickets in five County Championship matches this season at an average of 32

Zafar Ansari took three wickets in four balls to put Surrey on course for their second County Championship victory of the season against Kent.

Surrey were bowled out quickly for 292 but spinners Ansari (4-58) and Gareth Batty (3-40) struck back with the ball.

Joe Denly (66) top-scored for Kent as they were dismissed for 204, setting Surrey 195 to win at Beckenham.

Despite losing Ansari early, Rory Burns (29 not out) guided Surrey to 44-1 at the close, needing 151 more to win.

Rob Key (26) and Sam Northeast (26) enjoyed a 40-run partnership for Kent's second wicket, but once Key edged Matthew Dunn (3-61) behind, the home side struggled to rebuild.

Ansari had Fabian Cowdrey stumped for nine before forcing Darren Stevens to edge to slip and dismissing Sam Billings for a first-ball duck.

Batty rounded off the innings for Surrey, bowling Denly off an inside edge and having Matt Coles (29) caught at cover.

Kent batsman Joe Denly: "The pitch is a little bit slow and some of our dismissals this afternoon were on the soft side.

"It's frustrating because it is not too bad a pitch for batting and there's nothing out of the ordinary out there.

"Our bowlers have done a great job for us recently and we need a bit effort again."

Surrey bowler Tom Curran: "Zafar (Ansari) has been brilliant all season, taking crucial wickets at good times.

"We'll back ourselves to chase down 151 more runs with nine wickets left.

"We'll look to get through the first hour, hopefully lose as few wickets as we can, and then chase them down."